^ 


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IT 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0     ^^  tii 

^  ^   12.2 

1.1  l.-"'^" 


Fhotographjc 

Scmces 

Corporaiion 


rO- 


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iV 


<^ 


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n  WRST  MAr  STRHT 

W?B$T?«  M.Y.  145S0 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICJVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historicai  iMicroreproductions  /  Inttitut  Canadian  da  microraproductiont  historiquaa 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  IVotaa/Notas  tachniquaa  at  bibiiographiquaa 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  anamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avaiiabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua. 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  aignificantiy  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□    Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  eoulaur 


r~7|   Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagia 


□   Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raatauria  at/ou  pallieul4a 


D 


D 

D 

a 
n 

n 


0 


Covar  titia  miaaing/ 

La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 


pn   Colourad  mapa/ 


Cartaa  gAographiquaa  mt  eoulaur 


Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  eoulaur  (i.a.  autra  que  blaua  ou  noira) 


Colourad  plataa  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  an  eoulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matariai/ 
RalM  avac  d'autraa  documanta 


Tight  binding  may  cauaa  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  r9  liura  sarria  paut  cauaar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatoraion  la  k>ng  da  la  marga  intiriaura 

Blank  laavaa  addad  during  raatoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  poaaibia,  thaaa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
II  aa  paut  qua  cartainaa  pagaa  blanchaa  ajoutiaa 
lora  d'una  raatauration  apparalaaant  dana  la  taxta. 
maia.  loraqua  cala  Atait  poasibia,  caa  pagaa  n'ont 
paa  «t*  filmiaa. 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm*  la  maillaur  axampiaira 
qu'il  lul  a  it*  poaaibia  da  aa  procurer.  Laa  ditaila 
da  cat  axampiaira  qbi  aont  paut-*tra  uniquaa  du 
point  da  vua  bibllographiquj.  qui  pauvant  modifier 
una  image  reproduite.  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mithcda  normale  de  fllmaga 
aont  indiquia  d^daaaoua. 


{~n   Coloured  pagaa/ 


D 
D 

D 
0 


Pagaa  da  eoulaur 

Pagaa  damaged/ 
Pagaa  andommagiaa 

Pagaa  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagaa  reatauriaa  at/ou  paiiiculAea 

Pagaa  diacolourad,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pagaa  dAcoloriaa,  tachaties  ou  piquies 

Pagaa  detached/ 
Pagaa  ditachias 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparance 


|~n   Quality  of  print  variaa/ 


QualltA  inigaia  de  I'impreasion 

Includaa  auppiamentary  materiel/ 
Comprend  du  matiriel  supplimentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


D 


Pagaa  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissuaa,  etc..  have  been  refiimed  to 
enaure  tha  beat  possible  image/ 
Lea  pegea  totalement  ou  pertiellemant 
obacurciea  par  un  feuillet  d'arrata.  une  palure, 
etc.,  ont  *t*  fiimies  A  nouveau  da  fapon  * 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


1 

s 
1 

V 


d 
el 
b 
ri 
n 
n 


Additional  commanta:/ 
Commantairea  suppiimantairea; 


Irragulir  pminatlon  :   [1]  •  98,  [27i  -  36  p. 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  iMlow/ 

Ce  document  eat  film*  au  taux  de  rMuction  indiqu*  ei-deaaoua. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


20X 


»X 


mBH   m^/^mgm   — |__gg|_   Hl^^H   ^^^^m   ^^H^H   |_^^^_  ^^^mm 


12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  h«r«  haa  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Douglas  Library 
Quaan's  Univarsity 

Tha  imagas  aippaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidoring  tha  condition  and  laglblllty 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacificationa. 


Criglnal  coplaa  in  printad  papar  covara  ara  fllmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illuatratad  Impres- 
sion, or  the  back  covar  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  coplaa  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
sion,  and  ending  on  the  iaat  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impreaaion. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tha  symbol  ^^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  appiiao. 

IMaps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  ba  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  expoaure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  i^ift  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  frames  aa 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'eKemplaIre  f Ilm4  fut  reprodult  grAce  A  la 
ginAroaiti  da: 

Douglas  Library 
Queen's  University 

Les  imagea  suhrantea  ont  AtA  raprodultes  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  taiiu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nettetA  de  i'exempiaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformitA  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fllmaga. 

Les  exemplalres  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  eat  ImprimAa  sent  flimAs  en  commen^ant 
par  la  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impreaaion  ou  d'illustratlon,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  aalon  le  caa.  Tous  les  autres  exemplalres 
originaux  aont  filmAs  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'Impreaaion  ou  d'illustratlon  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboies  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  seion  le 
cas:  la  symboie  -^  signifie  "A  SUiVRE",  le 
symbole  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diff Arents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reprodult  en  un  seul  ciichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
do  i'angle  aupAriaur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  baa,  en  prenent  le  nombre 
d'imagea  nAcaaaaira.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrant  la  mAthoda. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

JOURNAL 

CONIAINIXa 

AN  ACCURATE  AND  INTERESTING  ACCOUNT 

OF  THK 

HARDSIIIPS,  SUFFERINGS,  BATTLES,  DEFEAT, 
AND  CAPTIVITY 

•  or  THOSE  HXROIO 

KENTUCKY 
VOLUNTEERS  AND  REGULARS, 

COMMANDED  B7 

GENERAL  WINCHESTER, 
In  the  Tears  1812-13. 

ALSO, 

TWO  NARRATIVES, 

BY  JfEN  THAT  WERE  WOUNDED  IN  THE  BATTLES  ON  THE  RIVER 
RAISIN,  AND  TAKEN  CAPTIVE  BY  THE  INDIANS. 


BY  ELIAS  DARNELL. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  AND  CO. 
1854. 


L 


/ 


aJ 


A 


\z.  2-5fe.;i.£)R.p 


V-/ 


\l 


!i 


f 


PHILADELPHIA: 
T.  K.  AND  P.  G.  COLLINS,  PRINTERS. 


I   f 

I: 


PREFACE. 


The  author  of  this  Journal  wrote  it  for  his 
own  satisfaction.  When  he  returned  home, 
he  was  induced  to  show  it  to  a  number  of 
his  acquaintances  for  their  information.  Se- 
veral, on  whose  judgment  he  could  rely,  re- 
quested him  to  publish  it  to  the  world.  He 
begs  leave  simply  to  remark  that  he  was  an 
eye  and  ear  witness  to  many  things  he  has 
narrated.  He  has  represented  things  as  he 
understood  and  remembered  them.  Other 
facts  he  obtained  from  testimony  in  whiclj  he 
could  fully  confide.  It  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  witnesses  of  probity,  in  giving  their  tes- 
timony in  courts  respecting  the  same  things, 
often  differ  from  one  another  as  to  many 
circumstances,  owing  to  their  different  capa- 
cities, positions,  and  the  like.  It  may  be  ex- 
pected, therefore,  that  some  who  were  in  the 


15;>0?5 


PREFACE. 


■   f 


'A 


army,  may  not  exactly  agree  with  the  author 
in  all  things  stated  in  this  Journal.  Let  that 
be  as  it  may,  he  is  conscious  that  he  sought 
the  most  correct  information,  and  that  he 
endeavored  to  communicate  it  in  a  plain, 
perspicuous  style.  If  he  has  made  any  im- 
portant mistakes,  should  those  interested 
convince  him  of  them,  in  a  friendly  way,  he 
will  use  the  best  means  in  his  power  to  cor- 
rect them. 

As  to  the  narratives  subjoined  to  this 
Journal,  they  are  short,  and  he  thinks,  inte- 
resting. He  is  acquainted  with  Mr.  Daven- 
port, and  believes  him  to  be  a  man  of  veracity. 
He  had  no  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Mallary 
before  he  applied  to  him  for  his  narrative. 
His  acquaintances  will  best  know  what  credit 
ought  to  be  given  to  him. 

The  gentlemen  who  gave  the  narratives, 
it  is  obvious,  are  the  onl?/  persons  responsible 
for  the  truth  of  them. 

The  whole  is,  with  diffidence,  submitted  to 
the  candor  of  a  generous  public,  by 

ELIAS  DAKNELL. 


^» 


JOURNAL  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN, 


dc.  d'C, 


to 


For  a  few  years  past  differences  existed 
between  the  United  States  of  America  and 
the  Kingdom  of  Gr<^at  Britain.  Every  pos- 
sible means  had  been  used  on  the  part  of  the 
executive  and  legislative  departments  of  the 
general  government  of  the  United  States,  to 
adjust  those  differences  upon  honorable  and 
equitable  terms.  But  Great  Britain  treated 
every  reasonable  proposition  with  haughti- 
ness and  contempt,  and  still  persisted  in  vio- 
lating the  just  rights  of  the  Americans,  by 
committing  depredations  on  the  high  seas, 
and  by  impressing  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  into  the  service  of  his  Majesty,  and 
employing  the  ravages  to  murder  the  defence- 
less inhabitants  of  the  frontiers.  The  United 
States  having  long  borne  these  outrages  with 
great  patience,  at  length  wearied  with  insults, 

1* 


m 


Winchester's  campaign. 


1 1 1 


•I  I 


'  ( 


*y 


resorted  to  the  last  and  most  painful  alterna- 
tive of  declaring  war  (which  was  done  on 
the  18th  of  June,  1812) ;  and  the  government 
having  called  for  volunteers,  more  than  the 
quota  of  this  State  rallied  round  their  coun- 
try's standard,  ready  to  assist  in  a  vigorous 
prosecution  of  the  war,  in  order  to  hasten  a 
speedy  and  honorable  peace. 

General  Hull  having  been  appointed  by 
the  general  government  to  take  possession  of 
part  of  Upper  Canada,  his  forces,  amounting 
to  about  3,000,  not  being  considered  suffi- 
cient to  execute  that  design,  three  regiments 
of  volunteer  infantry  and  one  regiment  of 
United  States  infantry,  amounting  in  all  to 
about  2,300,  were  called  and  destined  to  his 
assistance. 

Agreeably  to  a  general  order,  the  follow- 
ing regiments  rendezvoused  at  Georgetown, 
•August  15,  1812,  to  wit: — 

The  first  regiment  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  John  M.  Scott,  the  fifth  regiment  was 
commanded  by  Colonel  William  Lewis,  the 
first  rifle  regiment  by  Colonel  John  Allen, 
the  17th  United  States  regiment  by  Colonel 
Samuel  Wells ;  the  whole  under  the  command 
of  Brigadier-General  Payne. 

IQtL  The  troops  paraded  early  in  the 
morning,  and  were  received  by  Governor 
Scott.  We  paraded  again  at  10  o'clock,  and 
marched  to  a  convenient  place  in  close  order, 


k . 


wi^jchester's  campaign. 


where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Blythe  preached  a  short 
sermon,  and  the  Honorable  Henry  Clay  de- 
livered an  appropriate  discourse. 

17th,  The  troops  were  inspected  by  Major 
Garrard. 

ISth,  We  drew  two  months'  pay  in  ad- 
vance. There  being  a  general  complaint 
amongst  the  volunteers  respecting  sixteen 
dollars,  which  were  expected  to  be  drawn  in 
lieu  of  clothing.  Major  Graves  paraded  his 
battalion,  and  gave  them  their  choice  to  go 
on  without  the  sixteen  dollars,  or  return 
home.  JSix  chose  to  return ;  these,  to  fix  an 
odium  upon  them,  were  drummed  out  of 
camp  and  through  town. 

19th,  We  commenced  our  march  in  high 
spirits  to  join  General  Hull  at  Detroit,  or  in 
Canada.  Each  regiment,  for  convenience  and 
speed,  marched  separately  to  Newport.  We 
arrived  at  Newport  the  24th ;  it  is  80  miles 
from  Georgetown.  It  rained  most  of  the 
time,  which  made  it  disagreeable  travelling 
and  encamping.  These  hardships  tended  a 
little  to  quench  the  excessive  patriotic  flame 
that  had  blazed  so  conspicuously  at  the  dif- 
ferent musters  and  barbecues. 

Here  we  received  information  of  General 
Hull  having  surrendered  Detroit  and  Michi- 
gan Territory  to  General  Brock,  on  the  15th 
of  this  instant,  while  in  possession  of  the  ne- 
cessary means  to  have  held  that  post  against 


8 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


'ill 


<         ft 


'  the  forces  of  Upper  Canada."*^  This  we  could 
not  believe  until  confirmed  by  handbills  and 
good  authority ;  when  thus  confirmed,  it  ap- 
peared to  make  serious  impressions  on  the 
minds  of  officers  and  privates.  Those  high 
expectations  of  participating  with  General 
Hull  in  the  laurels  to  be  acquired  by  the 
conquest  of  Maiden  and  Upper  Canada,  were 
entirely  abandoned. 

We  drew  our  arms  and  accoutrements,  and 
crossed  the  Ohio  on  the  27th.  Our  destinv 
was  thought  to  be  Fort  Wayne. 

The  following  general  order  will  show 
some  of  the  evolutions  which  were  performed 
by  this  army  while  on  its  march. 

*  To  prove  that  this  surrender  was  not  in  consequence 
of  the  want  of  ammunition  and  provisions,  it  is  sufficient 
to  state,  upon  the  authority  of  official  information,  that 
there  were  thirty-three  pieces  of  cannon,  twenty-five  of 
which  were  brass  and  eight  iron,  which  were  well  manned 
and  supplied  with  ammunition. 

For  the  muskets,  seventy-five  thousand  cartridges  were 
made  up,  besides  twenty-four  rounds  in  the  cartouch-box 
of  each  man. 

In  the  magazine  were  sixty  barrels  of  powder,  and  one 
hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  lead. 

In  the  contractor's  store  were  at  least  twenty-five  days' 
provision ;  and  in  the  adjacent  country  considerable  sup- 
plies could  have  been  had,  besides  three  hundred  head  of 
cattle,  under  an  escort  commanded  by  Captain  Brush,  at 
the  River  Raisin. 

An  Ohio  Volunteer. 


4 


M 


-_;^_ 


Winchester's  campaign. 


• 


"  Headquarters,  Cincinnati^  Augutt  28,  1812. 

"  The  troops  will  commence  their  march 
in  the  direction  to  Dayton,  by  Lebanon,  at 
an  early  hour  to-morrow  morning.  Tlie 
generale  will  be  beat  instead  of  the  reveille  ; 
the  tents  will  then  be  struck,  the  baggage 
loaded,  and  the  line  of  march  taken  up  as 
soon  as  possible. 

"The  commandants  of  the  several  corps 
will  immediately  commence  drilling  their 
men  to  the  performance  of  the  evolutions 
contemplated  by  the  commander-in-chiv.i;  for 
the  order  of  iriirchand  battle.  The  principal 
feature  in  all  these  evolutions  is  that  of  a 
battalion  changing  its  direction  by  swinging 
on  its  centre.  This,  however,  is  not  to  be  done 
by  wheeling,  which,  by  a  large  body  in  the 
woods,  is  impracticable.  It  is  to  be  formed 
thus :  the  battalion  being  on  its  march  in  a 
single  rank,  and  its  centre  being  ascertained, 
the  front  division  comes  to  the  right  about, 
excepting  the  man  in  the  rear  of  that  division 
who  steps  two  paces  to  the  right,  at  the  same 
time  the  front  man  of  the  second  division 
takes  a  position  about  four  feet  to  the  left  of 
the  man  in  the  rear  of  the  front  division,  and 
dresses  with  him  in  a  line  at  right  angles  to 
the  line  of  march.  These  two  men  acting  as 
marks  or  guides  for  the  formation  of  the  new 
alignment  at  the  word — Form  the  new  align- 
ment, March  I  the  men  of  the  front  division 


10 


Winchester's  campaign. 


file  round  their  guide,  and  form  in  succession 
on  his  right.  At  the  same  time  the  men  of 
the  rear  division  file  up  in  succession  to  the 
left  of  the  guide,  and  dress  in  a  line  with  him 
and  the  guide  of  the  front  division.  This 
manoeuvre  may  be  performed  by  any  num- 
ber of  men,  by  company  and  platoon  as  well 
as  battalion. 

*'Wm.  H.  Hakeison, 
**  Major- General  Commanding." 

^\st.  General  Harrison  overtook  the  army 
between  Lebanon  and  Dayton.  He  was  re- 
ceived joyfully  by  all  the  troops  as  com- 
mander-in-chief, with  three  cheers. 

September  1.  The  army  arrived  at  Dayton, 
fifty  miles  from  Cincinnati,  and  was  saluted 
by  the  firing  of  cannon.  One  of  the  men 
who  were  firing  the  cannon  got  one  of  his 
hands  shot  oflf,  and  the  other  badly  wounded. 
We  arrived  at  Piqua,  September  3,  thirty 
miles  from  Dayton,  on  the  Big  Miami. 

Uh.  Keceived  information  of  the  critical 
situation  of  Fort  Wayne.  Colonel  Allen's* 
regiment  and  two  companies  from  Colonel 
Lewis's,  drew  twenty -four  rounds  of  ammu- 
nition, and  started  with  all  possible  speed  to 
the  relief  of  that  fort. 

bth.  General  Harrison  having  paraded  the 

*  Colonel  Allen  stopped  at  St.  Mary's  for  the  remain- 
ing part  of  the  armj. 


..>rf^- 


Winchester's  campaign. 


11 


remaining  part  of  the  army  in  a  circle  in  close 
order,  delivered  a  speech  to  them,  stating 
that  he  had  just  received  intelligence  from 
Fort  Wayne ;  that  it  was  in  great  danger  of 
being  taken  by  the  Indians  and  British ;  he 
said  that  we  were  under  the  necessity  of 
making  a  forced  march  to  their  relief.  He 
read  some  of  the  articles  of  war,  and  stated 
the  absolute  necessity  of  such  regulations  and 
restrictions  in  an  army,  and  if  there  were  any 
who  could  not  feel  willing  to  submit  to  those 
articles  and  go  on  with  him  they  might  then 
return  home.  One  man  belonging  to  Colonel 
Scott's  regiment  made  a  choice  of  returning 
home,  rather  than  submit  to  those  terms. 
Some  of  his  acquaintances  got  a  permit  to 
escort  him  part  of  the  way  home.  Two  of 
them  got  him  upon  a  rail  and  carried  him  to 
the  river ;  a  crowd  followed  after ;  they  duck 
ed  him  several  times  in  the  water,  and  washed 
away  all  his  patriotism. 

^th.  We  marched  at  12  o'clock — we  left 
all  our  sick  and  part  of  our  clothing  and 
baggage  at  Piqua,  in  order  to  make  as  much 
speed  as  possible.  On  the  morning  of  the 
8th,  three  miles  from  St.  Mary's,  one  of  Cap- 
tain M'Gowen'i?  company  was  accidentally 
shot  through  the  body  by  one  of  the  senti- 
nels ;  the  surgeon  thought  it  mortal.*    We 


*  He  died  in  a  few  days. 


12 


Winchester's  campaign. 


marched  four  miles  and  encamped  near  the 
River  St.  Mary's,  one  mile  from  the  fort. 
General  Harrison  called  the  army  together 
and  stated,  through  emergency,  we  must  be 
on  half  rations  of  flour  for  a  few  days,  but 
should  draw  a  ration  and  a  half  of  beef,  as 
he  wished  to  go  as  light  and  as  quick  as  pos- 
sible. He  said,  "  any  who  do  not  feel  willing 
to  go  on  these  terms  may  remain  at  the  fort 
and  have  plenty."  I  know  of  none  that 
stayed.  St.  Mary's  block-house  is  thirty  miles 
from  Piqua,  on  the  River  St.  Mary's. 

9th,  We  marched  through  some  first-rate 
woodland,  and  through  a  large  prairie  of  the 
best  quality.  It  is  badly  watered ;  the  water 
in  the  wagon-ruts  was  the  only  drink  we 
could  get  to  cool  our  scorching  thirst,  and 
but  very  little  of  that.  We  encamped  near 
the  River  St.  Mary's,  eighteen  miles  from  the 
fort.  At  11  o'clock  and  at  3  we  were  alarmed 
by  the  sentinels  firing  several  guns;  we 
formed  in  order  of  battle,  and  stood  so  fifteen 
minutes. 

The  following  extract  of  a  general  order  is 
designed  to  show  the  order  of  battle  for  night 
and  day  attack. 

*♦  Headquarters, 
*^Hecond  Crossing  of  St.  Mary's^  Sept.  10, 1812. 

"  The  signal  for  a  general  charge  will  be 
beating  the  hng-roll.  Officers  and  men  will 
be  upon  their  arms  and  in  their  clothes. 


Winchester's  campaign. 


13 


ar  the 
e  fort, 
gether 
iTist  be 
ys,  but 
)eef,  as 
as  pos- 
vsrilling 
lie  fort 
le  that 
y  miles 

rst-rate 
5  of  the 
e  water 
nk  we 
st,  and 

d  near 
om  the 

armed 
IS ;   we 

fifteen 

>rder  is 
ir  night 


1812. 

will  be 
en  will 
les. 


"  Two  or  more  guns  firing  in  succession 
will  constitute  an  alarm,  at  which  the  whole 
army  will  parade  in  the  order  of  encamp- 
ment (that  is,  in  a  hollow  square),  unless 
otherwise  directed.  When  a  sentinel  dis- 
charges his  gun  in  the  night  the  officer  of 
the  guard  to  whom  he  belongs  will  imme- 
diately ascertain  the  cause,  and  should  he 
have  sufficient  reason  to  believe,  on  an  ex- 
amination, that  an  enemy  is  near,  he  will 
cause  two  guns  to  be  fired  in  quick  succes- 
sion. Should  the  firing  of  a  sentinel  appear 
to  have  proceeded  from  a  cause  not  sufficient 
to  give  an  alarm,  the  officer  of  the  guard  will 
immediately  call  out  ^all  is  ivell^^  which  will 
be  repeated  through  the  army.  The  same 
thing  will  take  place  upon  an  accidental  fire 
made  in  the  day. 

"  The  order  of  battle  for  rear  attack  will 
be  so  far  attended  with  regard  to  the  rear 
line ;  the  rear  battalions  of  Colonel  Lewis's 
regiment  and  Colonel  Allen's  only  are  to 
turn  upon  their  centre,  while  the  heads  of 
the  front  battalions  are  to  close  up  the  front 
lines,  then,  facing  from  the  centre,  march  out 
until  they  respectively  gain  the  flanks  of  the 
front  line.  Should  the  attack  be  in  front, 
the  senior  officer  nearest  the  flank  battalion 
will  judge  of  the  propriety  of  bringing  up 
that  battalion  to  form  on  the  flank  of  the 
front  line.    The  second  battalion  of  Colonel 


u 


WINCHESTlilR's  CAMPAIGN. 


Lewis's  and  Colonel  Allen's  regiments  will, 
in  all  cases,  close  up  as  the  leading  battalions 
shall  advance,  and  make  room  for  them. 
Captain  Garrard's  troop,  forming  the  rear 
guard,  will  also  close  up  and  act  as  circum- 
stances may  require. 

*'  Wm.  H.  Harrison', 
**  Major- General  Commanding. ^^ 

10th.  The  order  of  march  for  the  infontry 
was  as  follows :  the  first  and  fifth  regiments 
formed  one  line  in  single  file  on  the  left,  two 
hundred  yards  from  the  road,  the  17th  United 
States  and  the  rifle  regiments  on  the  right  in 
the  same  manner.  The  baggage  in  the  road. 
The  order  of  march  for  the  horse  troops: 
One  of  Colonel  Adams's  battalions  of  Ohio 
volunteers  was  placed  at  the  distance  of  half 
a  mile  in  front  of  the  columns  of  infantry, 
and  marched  in  columns  of  companies  in 
files,  and  in  such  open  order  as  to  cover  the 
whole  front  of  the  army.  The  other  batta- 
lion of  Ohio  volunteers  formed  the  right 
flank  guard  of  the  army,  at  the  distance  of 
three  hundred  yards  from  the  column  of  in- 
fantry, and  parallel  to  it.  The  Kentucky 
mounted  riflemen  on  the  left,  the  same  dis- 
tance from  the  left  column  of  infantry  for 
the  left  flank  guard ;  Captain  Garrard's  troop 
formed  the  rear  guard.  We  marched  twelve 
miles.   , 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


15 


ts  will, 
ttalions 
r  them, 
le  rear 
3ircum- 


ifi^ntry 

^iments 

jft,  two 

United 

ight  in 

e  road. 

roops : 

^  Ohio 

)f  half 

'antry, 

ies  in 

er  the 

batta- 

right 

Qce  of 

of  in- 

ucky 

)  dis- 

y  for 

troop 

velve 


11th.  The  gipies  wounded  an  Indian  and 
got  his  gun  Jind  blanket;  our  day's  march 
was  eleven  miles;  we  stopped  earlier  than 
usual  in  order  to  make  breastworks,  and  be- 
cause it  was  a  convenient  place  for  water. 
We  fortified  this  place  very  strongly  with 
timber.  At  11  o'clock  the  camp  was  alarmed 
by  the  firing  of  many  guns  by  the  sentinels. 
The  whole  army  was  formed  in  quick  time, 
the  horse  troops  being  in  the  centre  ready 
to  assist  any  line  or  to  obey  any  order  which 
might  be  given.  One  half  of  the  men  were 
dismissed  and  retired  to  their  tents  for  one 
hour,  then  they  relieved  the  first  half  At  3 
o'clock  another  alarm  took  place  from  the 
sentinels,  a  general  parade  was  again  made. 
We  stood  in  order  of  battle  for  some  time. 
The  watchword  was  ^^ fight  on^^^  after  which 
this  place  was  called  "  Fort  Fight  On." 

12th.  We  continued  our  march  towards 
Fort  Wayne  with  as  much  caution  as  the 
nature  of  our  hurrying  would  admit ;  we  ex- 
pected to  meet  with  the  enemy  before  we 
reached  the  fort.  In  a  certain  well-known 
swamp,  'trough  which  we  had  to  pass,  we 
thought  probably  the  enemy  would  harbor. 
We  passed  the  swamp  unmolested  for  a  mile, 
we  were  then  alarmed.  The  rear  battalions 
formed  in  order  of  battle,  but  saw  no  enemy 
to  fight ;  we  immediately  resumed  our  march. 
This  alarm  and  the  one  the  night  preceding 


\T" 


16 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


seemed  to  shake  the  boasted  valor  of  some  of 
our  bravest  heroes. 

This  day's  march  was  twenty  miles  to 
Fort  Wayne,  through  a  great  deal  of  first- 
rate  land,  rich,  level,  and  well  timbered,  but 
badly  watered  near  the  road;  we  suflered 
extremely  for  water  these  three  days.  Our 
arrival  at  this  fort  gave  great  joy  to  the  in- 
habitants, who  were  one  company  of  regular 
troops  and  a  few  families.  The  Indians  had 
closely  invested  the  fort  for  several  days,  and 
burned  the  United  States  factory  and  all  the 
other  valuable  houses  which  were  not  inside 
of  the  stockading.  Three  of  our  men  who 
were  caught  out  of  the  fort  were  killed  by 
the  Indians.  The  Indians  encamped  about 
the  fort  two  weeks  before  they  made  the 
attack  on  it,  and  were  admitted  in  by  Captain 
Eay,  the  commanding  officer  of  the  garrison, 
who  would  have  surrendered  to  the  savages, 
had  it  not  been  &r  his  lieutenant,  who  de- 
fended the  fort  with  great  bravery.  Three 
Indians  were  killed  and  a  few  wounded. 
Captain  Kay  was  arrested  and  would  have 
been  broken  had  he  not  resigned.  The  fort 
was  well  provided  for  a  siege,  having  in  it 
one  hundred  men,  plenty  of  provisions,  am- 
munition, four  small  pieces  of  cannon,  and  a 
good  well  of  water. 

Fort  Wayne  is  one  of  the  most  elegant 
situations  I  ever  saw,  and  must  be  an  im- 


WINCHESTER  S  CAMPAIGN. 


17 


liles  to 
)f  first- 
ed,  but 
luflered 
i.    Our 
the  in- 
regular 
ms  had 
ys,  and 
all  the 
t  inside 
)n  who 
lied  by 
about 
de  the 
^^aptain 
prison, 
vages, 
10  de- 
Three 
unded. 
I  have 
le  fort 
5  in  it 
s,  am- 
and  a 

legant 
,n  im- 


■4 


porta  nt  place  to  the  United  States.  Three 
weeks  ago  the  neighborhood  around  the  fort 
would  have  exhibited  a  pleasing  prospect  to 
those  who  had  seen  nothing  for  several  days 
but  a  dreary  wilderness  of  one  hundred  miles. 
A  number  of  well-cultivated  farms,  with  neat 
houses,  in  view  of  the  fort,  would  have  ex- 
cited emotions  of  pleasure.  I  suppose  there 
were  four  hundred  acres  of  land  in  cultiva- 
tion. All  the  houses  were  reduced  to  ashes, 
together  with  a  large  quantity  of  small  grain 
and  hay,  by  the  savages ;  they  were  princi- 
pally Pottowatomies ;  they  also  destroyed  all 
the  stock  of  every  kind  about  these  farms, 
which  was  very  considerable.  Fort  Wayne 
is  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  Kiver 
Maumee,  opposite  the  junction  of  the  Kiver 
St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph,  which  are  consi- 
derable navigable  streams  in  lat.  41°  40', 
N.  long.  11°  5'  west  from  the  meridian  of 
Philadelphia.  . 

We  were  alarmed  by  the  report  of  some 
guns  which  were  fired  by  the  sentinels ;  we 
formed  in  order  of  battle  for  half  an  hour, 
during  which  time  it  rained  very  hard,  and 
rendered  many  of  our  gi^ns  unfit  to  do  exe- 
cution, except  the  bayonets.  The  alarm  must 
have  proceeded  from  the  timidity  of  the 
sentinels. 

14//i.  The  whole  force  was  divided  and 
placed  under  the  command  of  General  Payne 

2* 


18 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


and  Colonel  Wells.  General  Payne's  com- 
mand was  composed  of  Colonel  Lewis's  regi- 
ment, Colonel  Allen's  and  Captain  Garrard's 
troop.  Colonel  Wells's  command  was  com- 
posed of  Colonel  Scott's  regiment,  the  regu- 
lars and  the  mounted  riflemen.  General 
Payne  was  instructed  to  destroy  the  Miami 
towns  at  the  forks  of  the  Wabash.  Colonel 
Wells  was  directed  against  the  Pottowato- 
mies's  village  at  Elkheart.  General  Harrison 
thought  proper  to  go  with  General  Payne ; 
so  we  proceeded  on  to  the  waters  of  the 
Wabash;  live  miles  from  Fort  Wayne  we 
encamped.  Next  morning  we  came  to  an 
Indian  hut  and  a  small  cornfield,  two  miles 
from  our  encampment ;  here  all  the  wagons 
and  baggage  were  left,  and  Captain  Lang- 
horne's  company  as  a  guard ;  from  this  place 
we  marched  twenty-three  miles  to  an  Indian 
town  at  the  forks  of  the  Wabash ;  we  found 
the  town  evacuated ;  we  pulled  down  some 
of  their  houses  and  built  up  fires  and  en- 
camped; we  had  plenty  of  roasting  ears  of 
the  best  kind.  It  is  a  small  kind  of  corn, 
shallow  grain,  and  very  suitable  for  roasting 
ears,  which  answered  us  a  very  good  purpose, 
as  we  had  only  a  little  provision  with  us. 

16th.  We  marched  through  their  towns, 
four  in  number,  in  the  bounds  of  three  or 
four  miles,  in  which  there  were  fresh  signs 
of  Indians.     We  cut  up  their  corn  and  put 


■I 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


19 


i 


it  in  piles,  sixty  or  eighty  acres,  so  that  it 
might  rot.  A  variety  of  beans  were  found 
growing  with  their  corn ;  potatoes,  pumpkins, 
water-melons,  and  cucumbers  were  also  cul- 
tivated by  them.  Their  houses  were  all  burnt 
by  the  orders  of  General  Harrison ;  some  of 
them  were  built  of  bark  and  some  of  logs. 
The  tomb  of  a  chief  was  discovered ;  it  was 
built  on  the  ground  with  timber  and  clay,  so 
that  no  rain  or  air  could  enter ;  the  chief 
was  laid  on  his  blanket,  his  head  towards 
sunrise,  his  rifle  by  his  side,  his  tin  pan  on 
his  breast,  with  a  spoon  in  it ;  he  was  orna- 
mented in  their  style,  with  ear-rings,  brooches, 
&c.  This  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  places 
in  the  western  country;  the  land  is  level, 
well  timbered,  well  watered,  and  the  soil 
equal  to  any  part  of  Kentucky.  Near  the 
town,  where  the  timber  has  been  cut,  it  is 
covered  with  an  elegant  coat  of  blue  grass. 

17  th.  We  got  back  to  the  baggage,  and 
found  all  was  well.  Capt.  Langhorne  had  for- 
tified against  the  enemy  with  rails,  so  that  he 
would  have  been  able  to  have  held  his  place 
against  a  considerable  force.  We  took  some 
refreshments  and  pursued  our  journey,  and 
encamped  near  our  former  encampment. 

ISth.  We  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  met 
with  a  reinforcement  of  five  hundred  mounted 
riflemen  and  cavalry,  from  Kentucky.  A  man 
was  accidentally  shot  through  the  head  by 


20 


wixcuester's  campaign. 


111 


one  of  the  mounted  riflemen.  Colonel  Wells's 
division  returned  this  evening  from  their 
route,  which  was  fifty  miles  from  Fort 
Wayne,  on  the  waters  of  St.  Joseph's  River, 
very  much  fatigued.  They  found  nothing 
but  deserted  houses  and  corn  to  destroy, 
which  was  about  the  same  amount  as  was 
found  at  the  Wabash.  Capt.  Morris's  1st 
sergeant  (David  Irwin)  died  on  the  road. 
One  of  tlie  light-horsemen  wounded  a  man 
as  he  was  feeding  his  horse,  believing  him  to 
be  an  Indian. 

Idth.  We  encamped  in  the  forks  of  the 
river  half  a  mile  from  the  fort.  Gen.  Har- 
rison not  being  legally  authorized  by  the  gene- 
ral government,  as  commander  of  this  army, 
the  command,  of  course,  devolved  on  Win- 
cheste?.  This  resignation  of  Gen.  Harrison's 
was  done  with  much  reluctance,  as  he  had 
placed  great  confidence  in  the  Kentuckians, 
and  found  he  was  their  choice,  in  preference 
to  Gen.  Winchester.  The  conduct  of  Gen. 
Harrison  at  Tippecanoe,  and  his  familiarity 
with  the  troops  while  on  their  march  to  this 
place,  had  gained  to  him  a  peculiar  attach- 
ment. Gen.  Winchester  being  a  stranger, 
and  having  the  appearance  of  a  supercilious 
officer,  he  was  generally  disliked.  His  as- 
suming the  command  almost  occasioned  a 
mutiny  in  camp;  this  was  prevented  by  the 
solicitations  of  some  of  the  officers  to  go  on. 


Winchester's  campaign. 


21 


20th,  The  Kentucky  mounted  riflemen 
started  to  St.  Mary's  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  Harrison,  in  order  to  pursue  the  Indians 
in  some  other  quarter;  their  number  was 
about  fifteen  hundred. 

21st.  We  received  marching  orders  to 
march  to-morrow  morning  at  7  o'clock. 

The  following  general  order,  will  show 
Gen.  Winchester's  order  of  march. 

"General  Ordehs. — Fort  Wayne  Sept.  22,  1812. 

"The  army  will  march  in  the  following 
order,  to  wit :  the  guard  in  front  in  three 
lines,  two  deep  in  the  road,  and  in  Indian 
file  on  the  flanks,  at  the  distance  of  fifty  to 
one  hundred  yards  from  the  centre  line, 
when  not  prevented  by  obstructions. 

"  A  fatigue  party,  to  consist  of  one  captain, 
one  ensign,  two  sergeants,  two  corporals,  and 
fifty  privates,  will  follow  the  front  guard  for 
the  purpose  of  opening  the  road.  The  re- 
mainder of  the  infantry  to  march  on  the  flanks 
in  the  following  order ;  Col.  Wells's  and  Al- 
len's regiments  on  the  right,  and  Scott's  and 
Lewis's  on  the  left. 

"  The  general  and  brigade  baggage,  com- 
missaries' and  quartermasters'  stores  im- 
mediately in  the  rear  of  the  fatigue  party. 
The  cavalry  in  the  following  order :  Capt. 
Garrard  and  twenty  of  his  men  to  precede 


22 


Winchester's  campaign. 


;'  I 


■I! 


the  guard  in  front,  and  equally  divide  at  the 
head  of  each  line.  A  lieutenant  and  eighteen 
men  in  rear  of  the  whole  army  and  baggage. 
The  balance  of  the  cavalry  equally  divided 
on  the  flanks  of  the  flank  lines. 

"The  regimental  baggage  wagons  fiill  in 
according  to  the  rank  of  the  commanding 
of!icers  of  the  respective  regiments.  The 
officers  commanding  corps,  previous  to  their 
marching,  will  cause  the  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion to  be  carefully  examined,  and  will  see 
that  they  are  in  good  order.  They  will  also 
be  particularly  careful  that  the  men  do  not 
waste  their  cartridges.  No  muskets  are  to 
be  carried  in  the  wagons.  One  half  of  the 
fatigue  party  are  to  work  at  the  same  time ; 
the  other  half  are  to  carry  the  arms  and  ac- 
coutrements while  on  fatigue.  The  wagon- 
master  will  attend  to  the  loading  of  the  wa- 
gons, and  see  that  the  different  articles  are 
put  in  in  good  order,  and  that  each  wagon  and 
team  carry  a  reasonable  load.  The  hour  of 
march  is  deferred  until  9  o'clock,  instead  of 
7.  The  officer  of  the  day  is  charged  with  the 
execution  of  these  orders. 

"  The  line  of  battle  shall  be  formed  agree- 
ably to  Gen.  Harrison's  order  on  his  late 
march  to  Fort  Wayne. 

"  James  Winchester, 

♦'  Briffadier-General." 


M 


1 


lii 


Winchester's  campaign. 


23 


at  the 
hteen 

vided 

all  in 

nding 

The 

I  their 
muni- 

II  see 
1  also 
lo  not 
are  to 
3f  the 

time ; 
ad  ac- 
agon- 
tie  wa- 
s  are 
►nand 
)ur  of 
ad  of 
ththe 


igree- 
late 


■44 


''i 

'■.tt 

t 


ral. 


>> 


26lh.  Two  white  men,  and  Capt.  John 
(an  Indian  who  was  with  us),  lost  their 
horses.  They  continued  about  the  camping 
ground  in  search  of  them ;  they  saw  two  or 
three  Indians  exploring  our  encampment. 
They  took  this  method,  no  doubt,  to  calculate 
our  number.  The  spies  returned  to  camp 
this  evening,  who  had  discovered  many  Indian 
signs  in  front.  Five  of  the  spies  who  had 
yesterday  started  with  the  view  to  go  to 
Fort  Defiance,  were  found  on  the  road  shot, 
scalped,  and  tomahawked  by  the  Indians  or  ^ 
British. 

27th,  The  spies  and  Copt.  Garrard's  troop 
started  this  morning  to  bury  the  dead.  They 
were  attacked  by  a  party  of  Indians  who 
were  watching  the  dead.  One  of  the  spies 
got  shot  in  the  ankle  by  an  Indian.  They 
fired  on  the  Indians,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  Capt.  Garrard,  they  made  them  run,  but 
not  without  the  loss  of  some  of  their  savage 
blood.  It  was  supposed  some  of  them  were 
badly  wounded. 

Capts.  Hickman  and  Euddell  returned, 
who  had  started  this  morning  to  reconnoitre 
Fort  Defiance.  They  reported,  that  they 
saw  many  fresh  signs  of  Indians.  As  they 
returned  to  camp  they  spied  an  encampment 
of  Indians;  the  Indians  were  talking  and 
laughing  merrily.  A  detachment  was  sent 
after  dark  in  order  to  surp  ise  them.    Kud- 


m^ 


24 


Winchester's  campaign. 


ii  i 


m 


M 


dell,  their  pilot,  got  lost  before  he  got  far, 
so  that  they  could  not  execute  their  design. 

2Sth,  The  army  was  alarmed  abont  a  mile 
from  camp ;  we  quickly  paraded  in  order  of 
battle,  and  were  anxious  to  meet  the  enemy. 
The  alarm  proceeded  from  the  spies,  who 
fired  at  some  Indians  in  front.  The  spies 
returned  to  camp  this  evening;  they  saw 
where  a  large  number  of  Indians  and  British 
had  encamped  the  night  before. 

29th.  We  continued  on  the  same  encamp- 
ment, ^\G  miles  from  Defiance,  and  forty -five 
from  Fort  Wayne.  The  spies  and  norse 
troop  were  sent  out  in  order  to  make  dis- 
coveries. A  party  took  the  back  track ;  they 
saw  where  the  enemy  had  wheeled  to  the 
right  about,  and  retreated ;  and  fortunately 
for  them  they  did  so.  Our  industry  in  forti- 
fying the  camp  with  breastworks,  and  caution 
and  vigilance  with  which  it  was  guarded, 
would  have  rendered  us  able  to  have  main- 
tained our  ground  against  a  superior  force. 
Wagon  tracks  were  plainly  to  be  seen — it 
was  thought  they  were  going  to  Fort  Wayne 
with  cannon,  to  take  that  place. 

SOth.  We  marched  within  one  mile  of  Fort 
Defiance,  and  searched  for  a  suitable  place  to 
encamp  on :  after  every  examination  it  was 
thought  best  to  continue  here,  as  it  was  a  con- 
venient place  for  timber.  We  pitched  our 
tents  and  built  very  strong  breastworks  round 


! 

I 

1 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


25 


the  camp,  which  we  had  done  for  five  or  six 
nights  past ;  we  also  slept  with  our  gnns  in 
our  arms,  and  paraded  an  hour  before  day, 
and  stood  under  arms  till  nearly  sunrise. 
From  Fort  Wayne  to  Defiance,  we  travelled 
on  the  north-west  side  of  the  Maumee  Eiver. 
The  country  is  extremely  level  and  well 
timbered,  but  badly  watered. 

Oct.  1.  Col.  Lewis,  with  a  detachment  of 
three  hundred  and  eighty  men,  started  early 
this  morning  to  pursue  the  luviians  and  Bri- 
tish ;  they  crossed  the  Auglaze  Eiver,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  the  Maumee  seven  or  eight 
miles,  but  could  see  nothing  more  than  the 
appearance  of  the  enemy  retreating. 

2cZ.  Gen.  Harrison  arrived  here  with  about 
one  hundred  mounted  troops,  and  two  day.^' 
rations  of  flour.  "We  have  been  without 
bread  four  days.  "We  were  informed  Gen. 
Harrison  was  appointed  commander-in-chief 
of  the  North  Western  Army ;  this  was  pleas- 
ing news  to  their  troops,  as  he  was  the  choice 
in  preference  to  any  other. 

3d  The  troops  that  were  with  Gen.  Har- 
rison, coasisting  of  mounted  riflemen  and 
cavalry,  three  regiments,  came  to  camp  this 
morning  from  St.  Mary's,  which  is  63  miles 
from  Defiance.  They  came  with  speed,  to 
assist  the  troops  commanded  by  G^n.  Win- 
chester. Gen.  Harrison  had  received  infor- 
mallon  that  all  the  British  and  Indian  forces 


26 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


fV   I 


IlLMj 


of  Upper  Canada  were  on  their  way  to  meet 
Gen.  Winchester  at  Defiance. 

4:tL  There  has  been  great  mnrmuring  in 
camp,  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  pro- 
visions, which  threatened  a  dissolution  of  this 
army.  Gen.  Harrison  having  paraded  the 
army,  addressed  them  and  said,  there  were 
twenty-five  thousand  rations  provided  for 
this  army  at  St.  Mary's ;  this  should  be  con- 
veyed here  as  soon  as  possible,  part  of  which 
would  be  here  to-day ;  he  stated  the  conse- 
quence of  such  mutinous  complaints,  and  if 
this  army  would  disperse,  where  could  he 
get  men  who  would  stand  ?  He  said  every 
exertion  for  the  supply  of  this  army  with 
provisions  and  clothing,  should  be  used. 
He  informed  us  there  would  be  a  number  of 
troops  from  Pennsylvania  and  Yir^^mia  to 
join  us,  amounting  in  all  to  ten  thousand. 

5th,  A  fatigue  party  of  two  hundred  and 
forty  men  were  employed  to  rebuild  Fort  De- 
fiance. There  were  a  few  men  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river  opposite  to  the  fort.  They  dis- 
covered a  party  of  Indians,  twenty  or  thirty 
in  number;  they  took  them  to  be  those 
friendly  Indians  who  were  with  us;  being 
not  on  their  guard,  they  got  close  to  them. 
Four  or  five  of  the  Indians  fired  at  the  same 
time ;  they  killed  and  scalped  one  of  the  men, 
and  made  their  escape.  The  murder  was 
committed  not  more  than  three  hundred  yards 


Winchester's  campaign. 


27 


from  the  encampment  of  the  mounted  rifle- 
men and  cavalry,  with  Gen.  Tupper  at  the 
head  of  them.  Those  murderers  were  pursued 
immediately  by  two  hundred  horsemen ;  they 
pursued  them  in  scattered  order.  A  small 
party  overtook  them  five  or  six  miles  from 
camp,  and  finding  the  enemy's  force  superior 
they  had  to  retreat. 

^ith.  The  principal  part  of  the  clothing 
which  was  left  at  Piqua,  came  to  camp ;  it 
has  been  greatly  needed.  A  majority  of  the 
mounted  men  who  were  ordered  to  the  rapids, 
and  drew  ten  days'  provisions  for  that  expedi- 
tion^ refused  to  march  under  Gen.  Tupper; 
of  course  the  contemplated  expedition  failed, 
and  they  returned  home,  as  their  thirty  days 
were  nearly  expired. 

^th  A  few  days  ago,  Frederick  Jacoby, 
belonging  to  the  17tli  regiment  of  United 
States  infantry,  was  tried  by  a  court-martial 
for  sleeping  on  his  post — he  was  condemned 
to  be  shot.  The  troops  paraded  and  formed 
in  a  hollow  square  in  close  order,  where  the 
liev.  Mr.  Shannon  delivered  a  short  discourse 
on  the  occasion.  The  square  was  then  dis- 
played, so  that  the  army  might  witness  the 
awful  example  of  execution.  The  criminal 
was  marched  from  the  provost  guard  with 
solemn  music,  under  a  guard  of  a  subaltern, 
sergeant,  corporal,  and  twenty  privates,  to  the 
place  of  execution  ;  there  he  was  blindfolded ; 


w 


1 ,1 1' 


liVH 


2'S 


r.-.^  „1 


WINCHEaTER  S  CAMPAIGN. 


Hi'*' 


the  guard  stood  a  few  steps  from  him  waiting 
the  hour  of  execution  I  This  was  a  solemn 
scene ;  a  profound  silence  was  kept  by  all  the 
troops.  But  fortunately  for  the  criminal,  a 
reprieve  arrived  for  him,  just  before  the  time 
of  execution  I  The  General  judged  him  not 
a  man  of  sound  mind. 

The  spies  reported  they  had  killed  an  In- 
dian, but  could  not  get  his  scalp  on  account 
of  other  Indians ;  they  stated  there  must  be 
a  large  body  of  Indians  near,  by  their  trails. 

10th.  In  consequence  of  the  above  report 
of  the  spies,  Colonel  Wells  started  with  five 
hundred  men  in  pursuit  of  the  Indians ;  he 
pursued  their  trails  twelve  or  thirteen  miles, 
but  could  not  see  an  Indian. 

11  fh.  The  General  ordered  we  should  move 
and  encamp  near  where  the  fort  was  build- 
ing; this  was,  however,  prevented  by  the 
inclemency  of  the  weather ;  it  rained  and  the 
wind  blew  all  day,  which  made  our  situation 
very  unpleasant.  A  man  died  in  camp  last 
night ;  he  was  buried  with  the  honors  of  war ; 
he  was  escorted  to  the  grave  in  solemn  order, 
and,  after  a  short  discourse  by  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Mitchell,  six  men  fired  three  rounds  over  the 
grave ;  this  was  the  first  scene  of  the  kind 
witnessed  in  our  camp. 

14:th.  We  moved  to  the  fort,  and  received 
a  supply  of  provisions  (salt,  flour,  and  w^his- 


Winchester's  campaign. 


29 


key) ;  we  bad  been  witbout  salt  ever  since  tbe 
7tb,  and  witbout  flour  two  days. 

liUh.  A  detacbment  of  one  bundred  men 
was  sent  tbis  morning  six  miles  below  tbe 
fort,  to  a  suitable  place  of  timber  to  build 
pirogues. 

Ibth.  (Sunday.)  Tbe  troops  marcbed  to  tbe 
centre,  agreeably  to  a  general  order,  to  bear 
tbe  liev.  Mr.  Sbannon  preacb  a  sermon  suited 
to  tbe  times.  Wbile  be  was  zealously  en- 
gaged tberc  were  six  or  seven  guns  fired 
down  tbe  river  in  quick  succession;  tbis 
alarmed  tbe  wbole  congregation — every  one 
flew  to  bis  arms  and  left  tbe  speaker  alone. 
Tbe  alarm  originated  from  a  pirogue  party, 
wbo  bad  just  arrived  witb  a  pirogue  for  a 
supjily  of  provisions. 

19//i.  Tbe  fort  was  finisbed  and  cbristened 
^^  Fort  Winchester^  It  is  composed  of  four 
block-bouses,  a  bospital  and  storebonse,  and 
picketed  between  eacb  block-bouse,  contain- 
ing about  a  quarter  of  an  acre. 

20th,  Tbe  General  issued  an  order  for  tbe 
troops  to  be  assembled  every  morning  at  9 
o'clock,  at  sucb  places  near  tbe  encampment, 
as  tbe  commanding  officers  migbt  deem  con- 
venient, and  cause  tbe  rolls  to  be  called,  and 
mark  all  delinquents;  and  tbere,  until  12 
o'clock,  practice  tbe  manual  exercise,  and 
manoeuvre  according?  to  Smitb's  instructions 
for  infantry. 

8* 


30 


\vinchj:ster's  campaign. 


27th,  In  consequence  of  Gen.  Winchester's 
receiving  information,  he  issued  an  order  re- 
specting clothing,  which  will  show  a  flatter- 
ing prospect  of  being  supplied,  an  extract  of 
which  is  as  follows : — 

"General  Orders. — Fori  Winchester^  Oct.  27, 1812. 

"With  great  pleasure  the  General  an- 
nounces to  the  army  the  prospect  of  an  early 
supply  of  winter  clothing,  amongst  which  are 
the  following  articles  exported  from  Phila- 
delphia on  the  9th  of  September  last,  viz. 
10,000  pairs  of  shoes,  5,000  blankets,  5,000 
round  jackets,  5,000  pairs  of  pantaloons, 
woollen  cloth,  to  be  made  and  forwarded  to 
the  westward  immediately ;  besides  the  win- 
ter clothing  for  Col.  Wells's  regiment  some 
days  before ;  1,000  watch-coats,  ordered  from 
Philadelphia  the  7th  of  October,  1812.  Sep- 
tember 2J:th,  5,000  blankets  and  1,000  yards 
of  flannel.  25th,  10,000  pairs  of  shoes.  29th, 
10,000  pairs  of  woollen  hose,  10,000  do.  socks. 

"  Yet  a  few  days  and  the  General  consoles 

himself  with  the  idea  of  seeing  those  whom 

he  has  the  honor  to  command  clad  in  warm 

woollen,  capable  of  resisting  the  northern  blasts 

of  Canada, 

**  J.  Winchester, 
'■^  Brigadier- Gen.  Commanding  Left  Wing  N.  W.  Army.'''* 

29^/i.  A  fatigue  party,  consisting  of  three 
captains,  three  subalterns,  three  sergeants, 


Winchester's  campaign. 


31 


three  corporals,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty 
privates  was  detached  this  morning,  super- 
intended by  Gen.  Payne,  to  clear  the  way  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  so  as  to  make 
the  view  more  extensive  from  the  fort.  The 
spies  caught  a  prisoner  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  below  this  place ;  he  said  he  was  just 
from  Detroit ;  he  was  suspected  as  a  spy,  but 
he  denied  it ;  he  said  he  deserted  from  the 
British,  who  had  had  him  in  confinement 
some  time  in  consequence  of  his  not  taking 
the  oath  to  be  true  to  them. 

Fort  Winchester  is  situated  near  the  point 
between  the  Maumee  and  Auglaze  rivers, 
and  is  a  handsome  place ;  it  is  predicted  by 
some  to  become  in  a  few  years  a  populous 
city.  The  greater  part  of  the  land  in  the 
adjacent  country  is  rich,  and  when  improved 
will  be  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  any  in  the 
western  country.  The  Auglaze  River  empties 
into  Great  Miami,  which  runs  a  north  course 
to  Fort  Winchester,  and  is  navigable  a  con- 
siderable distance. 

November  2.  We  moved  across  the  River 
Maumee,  opposite  the  point;  it  is  a  high 
piece  of  ground  and  very  level,  but  in  some 
degree  wet  and  marshy :  this  movement  was 
in  order  to  get  convenient  to  firewood. 

3cZ.  This  late  place  of  encampment  is  found 
not  to  answer  a  good  purpose ;  therefore  the 
General  thought  it  expedient  to  move  from 


m 


V'X'' 


32 


Winchester's  campaign. 


n    < 


\  ^ 


this  to  a  piece  of  ground  one-half  mile  lower 
down  the  river.  As  there  were  only  a  few 
wagons,  one  regiment  moved  at  a  time — from 
12  o'clock  till  after  sunset  before  the  last  ar- 
rived at  the  place  of  destination.  This  last 
place  appears  to  be  very  marshy,  but  not  so 
much  so  as  the  former.  It  is  very  difficult 
to  get  £  good  place  for  an  encampment  at 
this  time,  as  we  have  had  several  rainy  days. 

4:tL  The  troops  have  been  engaged  in  for- 
tifying this  late  place  of  encampment  with 
breastworks,  so  that  we  may  be  prepared  for 
our  enemies,  should  they  think  proper  to  pay 
us  a  visit ;  the  weather  is  very  rainy,  which 
makes  our  situation  extremely  unpleasant, 
though  not  more  so  than  we  could  expect 
from  the  climate  and  season.  Four  of  this 
army  have  gone  to  the  silent  tomb  to-day, 
never  more  to  visit  their  friends  in  Kentucky; 
the  fever  is  very  prevalent  in  camp ;  nearly 
every  day  there  is  one  or  more  buried. 

7th.  We  received  information  from  Ken- 
tucky by  passengers,  of  a  quantity  of  clothing 
coming  out  for  the  volunteers.  By  every  ac- 
count from  that  quarter,  the  roads  are  almost 
impassable.  Major  Garrard,  and  six  of  the 
spies,  started  to  the  Eapids  this  morning. 
This  river  abounds  greatly  with  fish ;  large 
quantities  have  been  caught  with  traps,  and 
also  with  hooks  and  lines. 

9th,  Major  Garrard,  i.nd  those  men  with 


Winchester's  campaign. 


33 


with 


him,  returned  from  the  Eapids.  They  made 
discoveries  of  a  large  quantity  "of  corn,  and 
some  hogs,  and  cattle,  and  a  few  Indians. 

10^^.  The  army  moved  six  miles  down  the 
river,  in  order  to  be  better  accommodated 
with  suitable  ground  for  camping,  and  to 
build  more  pirogues.  This  encampment  is 
the  dryest  we  have  been  at  for  some  time ; 
the  land  and  timber  are  not  inferior  to  any. 
I  trust  this  country  was  designed  for  a  more 
noble  purpose  than  to  be  a  harbor  for  those 
rapacious  savages,  whose  manners  and  de- 
portment are  not  more  elevated  than  the 
ravenous  beasts  of  the  forest.  I  view  the 
time  not  far  distant,  when  this  country  will 
be  interspersed  with  elegant  farms  and  flou- 
rishing towns,  and  be  inhabited  by  a  free 
and  independent  people,  under  an  auspicious 
republic. 

16th.  A  detachment  of  six  captains,  six 
subalterns,  six  sergeants,  six  corporals,  and 
three  hundred  and  eighty-six  privates,  started 
with  six  days'  provision,  this  morning,  at 
reveille  beating,  to  the  Eapids,  under  the 
command  of  Col.  Lewis. 

17th.  Col.  Lewis,  with  his  detachment,  re- 
turned about  twelve  o'clock,  after  a  laborious 
march  of  sixty  miles.  About  eighteen  miles 
below  this  place,  he  was  overtaken  by  an  ex- 
press from  Gen.  Winchester,  who  had  re- 
ceived intelligence  of  Gen.  Tupper,  with  five 


84 


winciiestek's  campaign. 


i»M 


:l!' 


ill 


'Mi! 


hundred  men,  being  at  the  Rapids,  who  had 
discovered  a  body  of  Indians,  six  or  seven 
hundred  in  number,  drinking  and  dancing. 
Gen.  Tupper,  thinking  this  a  good  opportu- 
nity to  attack  them,  attempted  to  cross  the 
river,  two  miles  above ;  he  and  two  hundred 
of  his  men  effected  this,  through  great  diffi- 
culty ;  in  wading  across  some  fell  in  the 
water  and  lost  their  guns,  which  discouraged 
the  rest,  so  that  Gen.  Tupper  could  not  exe- 
cute his  design.  This  intelligence  animated  the 
troops  commanded  by  Col.  Lewis,  so  that 
they  wanted  to  continue  on  that  night,  with- 
out stopping,  and  attack  the  enemy  before 
day.  Col.  Lewis  thought  proper  to  halt,  and 
send  an  express  to  Gen.  Tupper,  for  both 
parties  to  meet  at  Eoche  de  Baut,*  six  miles 
above  the  Indian  encampment,  and  unite 
their  forces,  and  surprise  the  enemy„ 

The  express  returned  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  and  reported,  he  had  been  at 
Gen.  Tupper's  encampment ;  at  the  entrance 
of  which,  he  saw  a  man,  dead,  scalped,  and 
stripped.  He  concluded  that  Gen.  Tupper 
was  defeated.  This  news  changed  the  course 
of  Col.  Lewis,  not  knowing  their  force.  The 
General  has  thought  proper  to  have  this  place 
strongly  fortified  with  breastworks,  four  and 
a  half  feet  high. 

•  Pronounced  Rushdeboo. 


WINCHESTEll's  CAMPAIGN. 


35 


18/^.  One  of  the  sentinels  of  the  bullock 
guard  discharged  the  contents  of  his  gun  at 
an  Indian,  as  he  thought,  a  few  miles  below 
camp,  where  the  bullocks  were  grazing ;  the 
guard  deserted  the  bullocks,  and  retreated  to 
camp.  A  party  was  immediately  sent  in  pur- 
suit of  the  Indians,  and  behold  I  they  found 
Michael  Paul  cutting  a  bee-tree. 

20^/i.  Euddell  returned,  who  was  sent  on 
the  17th  to  reconnoitre  the  Kapids,  and  Tup- 
per's  encampment.  He  discovered  a  large 
body  of  Indians  at  the  Kapids.  He  was 
through  Tupper's  encampment,  where  it  was 
supposed  he  was  defeated  He  saw  the  man 
that  was  scalped  and  stripped,  and  he  thought 
Tupper  had  retreated,  instead  of  being  de- 
feated. 

2 2d  Smith  and  his  party  of  spies  had  a 
little  skirmish  near  Wolftown.  Early  in  the 
morning  they  were  eating  their  breakfasts  ; 
one  of  them  started  to  get  a  drink  of  water ; 
he  had  only  got  a  few  steps  when  an  Indian 
fired  and  wounded  him,  but  not  mortally. 
After  snapping  twice,  he  fired  and  wounded 
an  Indian.  Several  guns  were  fired  by  the 
Indians  afterwards,  but  no  injury  was  sus- 
tained. In  returning  to  camp  the  wounded 
man  was  sent  on  some  distance  before,  while 
part  of  them  remained  in  the  rear  as  a  guard. 

Capt.'Logan,  Capt.  John,  and  another  Indian, 
started  to  the  Kapids  with  the  determination 


80 


Winchester's  campaign. 


.'t 


ji'-i; 


to  establish  their  characters  (for  they  were 
suspected  by  some  to  be  traitors).  Between 
this  and  the  Kapids,  as  they  were  rising  a 
bank,  they  met  seven  Indians  and  a  British 
officer,  who  took  them  prisoners,  but  let 
them  carry  their  own  guns.  After  taking 
them  some  considerable  distance,  they  were 
determined  to  liberate  themselves  or  fall  a 
sacrifice.  They  succeeded  in  killing  at  the 
same  time,  the  British  officer*  and  two  of 
the  Indians;  they  stated  Logan  killed  the 
second,  but  he  got  badly  wounded  through  the 
body ;  one  of  the  other  Indians  that  were  with 
him  got  wounded,  but  not  mortally.  The 
two  wounded  got  on  two  horses  that  belonged 
to  the  dead  and  rode  to  camp,  leaving  Capt. 
John  to  take  scalps. 

23d  Capt.  John  came  in  camp  this  morn- 
ing with  a  scalp ;  he  said  it  was  the  scalp  of  a 
Pottowatamie  chief  (Wynemack) ;  he  broke 
his  knife  in  scalping  him,  which  prevented 
him  from  scalping  the  others. 

24^A.  Logan  died,  and  wns  much  lamented 
by  the  men  generally,  believing  him  to  be 
true  to  the  United  States,  and  a  brave  soldier. 

December  1.  The  troops  are  engaged  in 
building  huts,  which  are  far  preferable  to 
tents. 


I  I  ■ 


•  We  learned  since,  the  British  officer  was  Col.  Elliott's 
son,  and  was  probably  a  Captain. 


Winchester's  campaign. 


87 


2c?.  The  General  has  issued  an  order  for  the 
camp  to  be  picketed,  which  is  three-quarters 
of  a  mile  round.  It  is  on  the  north  side  of 
the  river,  and  is  composed  of  three  lines. 
Col.  Wells's  regiment  on  the  right,  Col. 
Scott's,  Lewis's,  and  part  of  Allen's  iji  front, 
the  remaining  part  of  Allen's  on  the  left,  the 
river  in  the  rear.  The  pickets  were  nearly 
completed  in  one  day,  two  feet  in  the  ground 
and  eight  feet  above. 

10/A.  The  General  has  given  orders  to  the 
commanding  officers  of  regiments  to  cause 
each  of  their  companies  to  be  provided  with 
a  good  pirogue  sufficient  to  carry  its  owni 
baggage,  and  cause  all  those  who  are  without 
shoes  to  make  themselves  moccasons  out  of 
green  hides. 

There  are  many  who  have  not  shoes  and 
clothes  sufficient  to  keep  them  from  freezing,, 
should  we  move  from  here  while  they  are  in 
this  condition ;  the  clothes  that  the  General 
flattered  us  with  the  expectation,  and  the 
clothes  subscribed  by  the  Kentuckians  being 
not  yet  received,  except  a  small  part  of  the 
latter. 

IS^^.  Smith  and  his  party  returned  from 
the  Kapids,  who  started  two  days  ago  in  a 
canoe ;  they  did  not  go  far  before  they  left 
the  canoe,  on  account  of  the  ice,  and  travelled 
by  land;  some  of  them  were  dangerously 
frostbitten. 


n^ 


..  1 


Winchester's  campaign. 


n 


'I  I' 


:\\\ 


it  i' 

1!  i; 


1r' 


14^^.  An  express  arrived  in  camp,  certify- 
ing that  the  boats  which  started  from  St. 
Mary's  on  the  4:th,  laden  with  flour  and 
clothing,  were  frozen  up  in  St.  Mary's  Rive*, 
and  the  escort  was  building  a  house  to  store 
the  loading  in. 

15iK  Capt.  Hickman  started  this  morning 
to  forward  flour  and  clothing  immediately  on 
packhorses. 

16th.  We  have  drawn  no  flour  since  the 
10th,  in  consequence  of  which  there  wns  a 
letter  handed  to  the  Greneral  last  night  se- 
cretly, which  stated  that  the  volunteers  in 
two  days,  except  flour  came  before  that  time, 
would  start  and  go  to  it;  and  they  would 
carry  their  camp  equipage  to  the  fort  if  the 
General  required  it.  This  news  was  soon 
circulated  through  camp.  The  officers  used 
every  argument  to  suppress  the  appearance 
of  a  mutiny.  A  court-martial  was  held  at 
Capt.  Williams's  marquee  to  try  John  llog- 
gard,  a  private  in  Capt.  Price's  company,  for 
some  misdemeanor.  He  was  condemned  to  be 
drummed  out  of  camp.  Col.  Lewis  paraded 
his  regiment,  and  had  him  escorted  with  the 
fife  and  drum  from  one  end  of  his  line  to  the 
other.  So  he  was  legally  discharged  from 
the  army.  The  most  common  punishment 
in  camp  for"  criminals  is  that  of  riding  the 
wooden  horse^  or  being  put  under  guard  on 
half  rations.  All  the  beef  and  pork  was  issued 


Winchester's  campaign. 


39 


to  the  troops  this  evening ;  our  dependence 
for  the  next  ration  is  on  a  drove  of  hogs  that 
lias  been  expected  several  days ! 

17th.  Three  hundred  head  of  hogs  arrived 
to  our  relief. 

20ih.  The  weather  is  excessively  cold ;  the 
ice  has  stopped  the  navigation  of  the  river, 
so  that  the  p^an  of  going  to  the  Kapids  by 
water  is  entirely  frustrated ;  we  had  prepared 
about  sixty  pirogues  for  the  voyage,  which 
will  be  left  here  for  our  successors. 

21st.  The  General  has  ordered  the  com- 
mandants of  regiments  to  cause  each  com- 
pany to  be  provided  with  a  sufficient  number 
of  sleds  to  convey  their  baggage  to  the 
Eapids.  It  is  said  these  sleds  are  to  be  pulled 
by  the  men,  as  we  have  not  a  horse  in  cainp 
able  to  pull  an  empty  sled. 

22d.  A  little  flour  came  to  camp  once 
more;  quarter-rations  of  that  article  were 
issued,  which  was  welcomed  by  rejoicing 
throughout  camp.      - 

24:tli.  Capt.  Hickman  returned  with  joyful 
news — that  we  should  in  a  short  time  be  sup- 
plied with  flour.  The  deficiency  of  this  ar- 
ticle had  produced  serious  consequences  in 
the  army.  We  have  here  been  exposed  to 
numberless  difficult) Crf,  as  well  as  deprived 
of  the  common  necessaries  of  life ;  and  what 
made  these  things  operate  more  severely  was, 
all  hopes  of  obtaining  any  conquest  was  en- 


■  111'  i 


Iml !! 

i 


it; 


R!  • 


I  I'WII  I 


li 


\U.  liM 


^^ 


i 


11 


!•  I 


■r' ill  1 1 

III!! 


40 


Winchester's  campaign. 


tirely  abandoned.  Obstacles  had  emerged  in 
the  path  to  victory,  which  must  have  ap- 
peared insurmountable  to  every  person  en- 
dowed with  common  sense.  The  distance  to 
Canada,  the  unpreparedness  of  the  army,  the 
scarcity  of  provisions,  and  the  badness  of  the 
weather,  show  that  Maiden  cannot  be  taken 
in^  the  remaining  part  of  our  time.  And 
would  it  not  have  been  better  if  this  army 
had  been  disbanded  ?  Our  sufferings  at  this 
place  have  been  greater  than  if  we  had  been 
in  a  severe  battle.  More  than  one  hundred 
lives  have  been  lost,  owing  to  our  bad  ac- 
commodations I  The  sufferings  of  about  three 
hundred  sick  at  a  time,  who  are  exposed  to 
the  cold  ground  and  deprived  of  every  nou- 
rishment, are  sufficient  proofs  of  our  wretched 
condition !  The  camp  has  become  a  loath- 
some place.  The  hope  of  being  one  day 
relieved  from  these  unnecessary  sufferings 
affords  some  relief.  We  received  this  even- 
ing a  supply  of  flour,  and  have  been  delivered 
from  a  state  of  starvation.  It  being  Christ- 
mas eve,  just  after  dark,  a  number  of  guns 
were  fired  in  quick  succession;  the  whole 
army  was  ordered  to  parade  in  order  of  bat- 
tle ;  strict  orders  were  given  to  suppress 
the  firing.  About  an  hour  before  day  the 
firing  commenced  again ;  the  army  was  again 
paraded  and  strict  orders  given,  threatening 
to  punish  the  offenders. 


Winchester's  campaign. 


41 


27th,  Part  of  the  clothing  arrived  from 
Kentucky. 

29th.  We  are  now  about  commencing  one 
of  the  most  serious  marches  ever  performed 
by  the  Americans.  Destitute,  in  a  measure, 
of  clothes,  shoes,  and  provisions,  the  most 
essential  articles  necessary  for  the  existence 
and  preservation  of  the  human  species  in  this 
world,  and  more  particularly  in  this  cold 
climate.  Three  sleds  are  prepared  for  each 
company,  each  to  be  pulled  by  a  packhorse, 

hicli  has  been  without  food  for  two  weeks, 
e  .oept  brush,  and  will  not  be  better  fed  while 
in  our  service ;  probably  the  most  of  these 
horses  never  had  harness  on,  but  the  pre- 
sumption is  they  will  be  too  tame ;  we  have 
prepared  harness  out  of  green  hides. 

30th.  After  nearly  three  months'  prepara- 
tion for  this  expedition,  we  commenced  our 
march  in  great  splendor ;  our  elegant  equi- 
page cast  a  brilliant  lustre  on  the  surround- 
ing objects  as  it  passed!  our  clothes  and 
blan]:cCr  looked  as  if  they  had  never  been 
acqui'ittevi  with  water,  but  intimately  with 
dirt,  smc'c^,  and  foot;  in  fact,  we  have  be- 
come acquainted  ^nih.  one  much  despised  in 
Kentucky,  under  who.  <='<  government  wt  are 
obliged  to  live,  whose  name  is  ^^  Poverty. ^^ 
We  marched  six  miles  and  encamped  near 
CoL  '^Vells's  regiment,  which  marched  yester- 


UV'  1 


llj'M 


42 


Winchester's  campaign. 


day ;  the  sick  were  left  at  No.  Third,  with  a 
company  from  each  regiment  as  a  guard. 

January  10.  We  arrived  at  HulVs  road  at 
the  Rapids,  fifty  miles  from  Fort  Defiance, 
and  encamped  on  a  very  high  and  suitable 
piece  of  ground.  The  second  day  after  we 
left  No.  Third,  the  snow  melted  and  the 
ground  thawed,  which  operated  much  against 
our  march.  We  marched  two  miles,  which 
tried  the  stren^^  "^Ii  and  activity  of  our  noble 
steeds.  The  Gei  1,  who  remained  behind 
at  No.  Third,  mOiO  properly  styled  Fort 
Starvation^  thinking  probably  to  take  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  weather  (this  moderate  thaw 
had  opened  the  river  in  a  ripple  opposite  to 
No.  Third),  had  several  pirogues  loaded  with 
his  baggage,  and  manned  immediately.  After 
travelling  three  or  four  hundred  yards, 
they  found  that  they  were  blockaded  with 
ice ;  they  landed  and  guarded  the  plun- 
der, until  arrangements  could  be  made  for 
its  transportation  by  land.  The  weather 
took  a  change  the  second  of  January.  It 
commenced  snowing,  and  continued  two  days 
and  nights :  after  it  ceased,  it  was  from  twenty 
to  twenty-four  inches  deep.  During  this 
time  we  remained  stationary.  On  the  third, 
the  army  resumed  its  march,  wading  through 
a  deep  snow  We  had  to  stop  early  in  the 
afternoon  to  prepare  our  encampment;  to 
rake  the  snow  away,  make  fires,  and  pitch 


lil'l!!!!    I 

lltl,;:i 


Winchester's  campaign. 


48 


our  tents,  was  no  trifling  task ;  and  after  this 
we  had  to  get  bark  or  bushes  to  lie  on ;  the 
linn,  in  this  case,  was  of  great  service  to  us. 
Many  of  the  horses  gave  out,  and  sleds  broke 
down ;  consequently,  the  plunder  had  to  be 
pulled  or  carried  by  the  men.  I  have  seen 
six  Kentuckians  substituted  instead  of  a  horse, 
pulling  their  plunder,  drudging  along  through 
the  snow,  and  keeping  pace  with  the  fore- 
most. In  marching  to  this  place  we  came 
through  some  good  land,  particularly  the 
river  bottoms,  which  are  very  rich.  Wolf- 
town,  which  is  about  half  way  between  Fort 
Defiance  and  the  Eapids,  is  a  handsome 
situation.  This  has  formerly  been  an  Indian 
town.  We  reached  Eoche  De  Baut  the  9th, 
four  miles  above  Hull's  road,  a  place  where 
some  French  had  formerly  lived.  Early 
next  morning  (as  cold  a  morning  as  the 
Kentuckians  ever  experienced)  a  detached 
party  of  six  hundred  and  seventy -six  men 
marched  in  front  of  the  baggage,  and  went 
on  four  miles  below  the  foot  of  the  Eapids, 
in  order  to  examine  if  it  were  true,  as  said 
by  some  passengers  from  the  right  wing  of 
the  army,  that  there  were  six  hundred  Indians 
encamped  and  picketed  in,  six  miles  below 
the  Eapids.  The  detachment  marched  within 
two  miles  of  the  place,  and  sent  spies,  but 
they  discovered  no  signs  of  Indians.  The 
patty  remained  all  night,  and  partook  of  an 


ipil 


44 


Winchester's  cAMPAior, 


'  »  ii 


^■'■1 


M 
m 
ill- 


l!i 


d 

m 


elegant  supper  of  parched  corn,  and  returned 
to  camp  in  the  morning. 

11th.  Some  fresh  signs  of  Indians  were 
seen  near  this  encampment.  A  detachment  of 
twenty-four  men  was  sent  immediately,  under 
the  command  of  Capt.  Williams.  They  had 
not  got  far  before  they  discovered  the  In- 
dians; the  firing  commenced  on  both  sides 
nearly  at  the  same  time.  The  Indians  stood 
but  a  little  time  before  they  ran,  but  not 
until  they  lost  some  of  their  savage  blood. 
Capt.  Williams  pursued  them  some  miles, 
but  could  not  overtake  them.  By  the  signs 
of  blood,  some  of  them  must  have  been  badly 
wounded.  They  left  behind  them  two  of 
their  horses,  a  brass  kettle,  and  some  other 
*  plunder.  One  of  Capt.  Williams's  men  re- 
ceived a  wound  in  the  arm,  and  another  got 
shot  through  his  hat.  Capt.  Edmiston,  who 
was  one  of  the  party,  got  his  gun  shot  through 
the  breech. 

ISth.  Two  Frenchmen  came  in  camp  last 
night  from  the  river  Kaisin,  who  received  in- 
formation of  the  army  being  here  by  those 
Indians  that  Capt.  Williams  pursued,  who 
got  there  the  night  after  the  skirmish,  and 
stopped  only  a  few  minutes,  and  then  went 
on  to  Maiden.  Those  Frenchmen  solicited 
protection  and  assistance,  stating  the  abuse 
they  had  received  from  the  Indians,  and  the 


r  ^■' 


«:!i!^' 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


45 


danger  they  were  in  of  losing  their  lives  and 
property. 

2Dth.  Arrived  in  camp  this  morning,  cloth- 
ing from  Kentucky.  The  ladies  who  sent 
this  clothing  deserve  the  highest  encomiums. 
If  it  had  not  been  for  their  unexampled  ex- 
ertions, we  must  have  suffered  beyond  con- 
ception. May  they  long  live  under  the  auspi- 
cious protection  of  a  free  government,  and 
may  kind  heaven  reward  their  unparalleled 
benevolence  I 

Another  Frenchman  came  to  camp,  con- 
firming what  was  stated  by  the  others.  We 
now  began  to  recruit  after  our  laborious 
march,  and  after  being  deprived  of  a  suffi- 
ciency of  provisions.  Although  we  have 
been  without  flour  ever  since  we  came  here, 
yet  we^ave  been  better  supplied  with  pro- 
visions than  we  have  been  since  we  embarked 
in  the  service.  We  have  here  in  possession 
many  large  fields  of  corn,  probably  three 
hundred  acres.  We  have  erected  a  great 
many  pounding  machines,  to  prepare  it  for 
our  use.  This  place  has  a  solemn  appear- 
ance. The  inhabitants  have  fled,  and  the 
Indians  or  British  have  burned  their  houses, 
leaving  some  of  the  chimneys  standing.  By 
every  appearance,  this  has  been  a  respectable 
settlement.  Four  miles  below  our  encamp- 
ment, are  the  remains  of  the  old  British  gar- 
rison. 


46 


Winchester's  campaign. 


:i 


!! 


: 


!i 


17  th.  A  Frenchman  came  yesterday  from 
the  river  Eaisin ;  he  said  two  companies  of 
British  had  just  arrived  from  Canada,  and 
the  Indians  were  collecting,  and  intended  to 
burn  Frenchtown  in  a  few  days.  By  the 
repeated  solicitations  of  the  French,  and  being 
counselled  by  some  of  the  field-officers,  the 
General  has  been  induced  to  order  out  a  de- 
tachment of  five  hundred  and  seventy  men, 
destined  to  the  river  Eaisin;  it  was  said,  con- 
trary to  the  instructions  of  Gen.  Harrison. 
The  detachment  started*  early  w^ith  three 
days'  provisions,  and  proceeded  on  twenty 
mied  near  to  Presqu'  Isle,  a  French  village 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Maumee  Kiver.  The 
sight  of  this  village  filled  each  heart  with 
emotions  of  cheerfulness  and  joy ;  for  we  had 
been  nearly  five  months  in  the  wilderness, 
exposed  to  every  inconvenience,  and  ex- 
cluded from  everythmg  that  had  the  appear- 
ance of  a  civilized  country.  When  the  in- 
habitants of  the  village  discovered  us,  they 
met  us  with  a  white  flag,  and  expressed  par- 
ticular friendship  for  us.  They  informed  us 
the  British  and  Indians  had  left  Frenchtown 
a  few  days  ago,  and  had  gone  to  Brownstown. 
About  three  hours  after  dark,  a  reinforce- 
ment of  one  hundred  and  ten  men  overtook 

*  The  French,  who  were  looking  at  us  when  we  started, 
were  heard  to  say,  we  were  not  men  enough. 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


47 


US,  commanded  by  Col.  Allen.  Some  time  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  night  an  express  came 
from  the  river  Kaisin,  informing  Col.  Lewis 
there  were  four  hundred  Indians  and  two 
companies  of  British  there,  and  that  Colonel 
Elliott  was  to  start  the  next  morning  from 
Maiden  with  a  reinforcement. 

ISth.  We  started  early,  in  order  to  get 
there  before  Col.  Elliott;  after  travelling  fif- 
teen miles,  mostly  on  the  ice,  we  received 
information  of  the  enemy  being  there  waiting 
for  us ;  we  were  then  within  three  miles  of 
Frenchtown ;  we  proceeded  on  with  no  other 
view  than  to  conquer  or  die.  When  we  ad- 
vanced in  sight  of  the  town,  and  were  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  it,  the  British  saluted 
us  by  the  firing  of  a  piece  of  cannon ;  they 
fired  it  three  times,  but  no  injury  was  sus- 
tained. During  this  time  we  formed  the  line 
of  battle,  and,  raising  a  shout,*^  advanced  on 
them  briskly;   they  soon  commenced  the 

*  A  Frenchman  who  lived  in  this  village  said  when  the 
word  came  the  Americans  were  in  sight,  there  was  an  old 
Indian  smoking  at  his  fireside;  the  Indian  exclaimed, 
*'//b,  de  Mericans  come;  I suppoae  Ohio  men  come,  we  give 
them  another  chase ;"  (alluding  to  the  time  they  chased  Gen. 
Tapper  from  the  Rapids. )  He  walked  to  the  door  smok- 
ing, apparently  very  unconcerned,  and  looked  at  us  till 
we  formed  the  line  of  battle,  and  rushed  on  them  with  a 
mighty  shout!  he  then  called  out  *'Kentuck,  by  God!" 
and  picked  up  his  gun  and  ran  to  the  woods  like  a  wild 
beast. 


48 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


V^ 


,;lil 


)-m 


iilr 


iifl 

I  ■  ■  ■  I  a 


r"  ii'P 


m^i 


■•,!! 


firing  of  their  small  arms,  but  this  did  not 
deter  us  from  a  charge ;  we  advanced  close 
and  let  loose  on  them ;  they  gave  way,  and 
we  soon  had  possession  of  the  village  with- 
out the  loss  of  a  man  I  Three  were  slightly 
wounded.  Twelve  of  their  warriors  were  slain 
and  scalped,  and  one  prisoner  taken  before 
they  got  to  the  woods.  In  retreating,  they 
kept  up  some  firing.  We  pursued  them  half  a 
mile  to  the  woods,  which  were  very  brushy 
and  suited  to  their  mode  of  fighting.  As  we 
advanced,  they  were  fixing  themselves  behind 
logs,  trees,  &c.  to  the  best  advantage;  our 
troops  rushed  on  them  resolutely,  and  gave 
them  Indian  play,  took  the  advantage  of 
trees,  &c.  and  kept  them  retreating  a  mile 
and  a  half  in  the  woods.  During  this  time  a 
heavy  fire  was  kept  up  on  both  sides;  at 
length,  after  a  battle  of  three  hours  and  five 
minutes,  we  were  obliged  to  stop  the  pursuit 
on  account  of  the  approach  of  night,  and  re- 
tire to  the  village ;  we  collected  our  wounded 
and  carried  them  to  the  village,  leaving  our 
dead  on  the  ground.  In  this  action  the  Ken- 
tuckians  displayed  great  bravery,  after  being 
much  fatigued  with  marching  on  the  ice; 
cowardice  was  entirely  discountenanced ;  each 
was  anxious  to  excel  his  fellow-soldiers  in 
avenging  his  injured  country;  those  only  fell 
in  the  rear  who  were  most  fatigued.  Our  loss 
in  this  action  was  eleven  killed  and  fifty 


Winchester's  campaign. 


49 


w  oundecl  *  Although  the  enemy  had  the 
advantage  of  the  village  in  the  first  attack, 
and  of  the  woods  in  the  second,  their  loss,  by 
the  best  information,  far  exceeded  ours.  A 
Frenchman  stated  they  had  fifty -four  killed 
and  a  hundred  and  forty  wounded,  part  of 
whom  were  carried  to  his  house,  on  Sand 
Creek,  a  few  miles  from  the  village.  An  ex- 
press and  the  Indian  prisoner  were  sent  im- 
mediately to  the  Kapids.  Some  dispute  arose 
between  the  Indians  and  some  of  the  French 
on  Sand  Creek;  the  Indians  killed  an  old. 
man  and  his  tvife ;  in  consequence  of  this  the 
French  were  enraged,  and  resolved  to  get 
revenge.  They  applied  to  us  for  assistance, 
but  it  was,  thought  improper  to  leave  the 
village,  though  some  of  them  had  assisted  us 
and  fought  in  the  front  of  the  battle. 

19th.  A  party  was  sent  out  to  the  battle- 
ground to  bring  in  the  dead,  which  were 
found  scalped  and  stripped  except  one.  In 
going  over  the  battle-ground,  great  signs  were 
seen  (by  the  blood  and  where  they  had  been 
dragged  through  the  snow)  of  a  considerable 
loss  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  Two  of  the 
wounded  died.  The  British  left  a  consider- 
able quantity  of  provisions  and  some  store 

*  It  would  have  been  better  for  us  if  we  had  been  con- 
tented with  the  possession  of  the  village,  without  pursu- 
ing them  to  the  woods. 


50 


Winchester's  campaign. 


»*>■,' 


mm 


I, 
'  Pi 


III 


«■  ■' 


goods,  which  answered  us  a  valuable  pur- 
pose. Tlie  wounded  could  have  been  as  well 
accommodated  here  with  every  necessary  as 
in  any  part  of  Kentucky.  Apples,  cider,  sugar, 
butter,  and  whiskey  appeared  to  be  plenty. 
The  river  Eaisin  runs  an  east  course  through 
a  level  country,  interspersed  with  well-im- 
proved farms,  and  is  seventy  or  eighty  yards 
wide;  the  banks  are  low.  Frenchtown  is 
situated  on  the  north  side  of  this  river,  not 
more  than  three  miles  from  the  place  it  emp- 
ties into  Lake  Erie.  There  is  a  row  of  dwell- 
ing-houses, about  twenty  in  number,  princi- 
pally frame,  near  the  bank,  surrounded  with 
a  fence  made  in  the  form  of  picketing,  with 
split  timber,  from  four  to  ^ve  feet  high ;  this 
was  not  designed  as  a  fortification,  but  to 
tecure  their  yards  and  gardens. 
>  21st.  A  reinforcement  of  two  hundred  and 
thirty  men  arrived  in  the  afternoon;  also 
Gen.  Winchester,  Col.  Wells,  Major  M'Clana- 
han,  Capt.  Hart,  surgeons  Irvin  and  Mont- 
gomery, and  some  other  gentlemen,  who 
came  to  eat  apples  and  drink  cider,  having 
been  deprived  of  every  kind  of  spirits  nearly 
two  months.  The  officers  having  viewed  and 
laid  off"  a  piece  of  ground  for  a  camp  and 
breastworks,  resolved  that  it  was  too  late  to 
remove  and  erect  fortifications  that  evening; 
farther,  as  they  resolved  to  remove  early 
next  day,  it  was  not  thought  worth  while, 


:.:::!? 


Winchester's  campaign. 


51 


though  materials  were  at  hand,  to  fortify  the 
right  wing,  which  therefore  encamped  in  the 
open  field,*  and  Col.  Wells,  their  commander, 
set  out  for  the  Eapids  late  in  the  evening.  A 
Frenchman  arrived  here  late  in  the  evening 
from  Maiden,  and  stated  that  a  large  number 
of  Indians  and  British  were  coming  on  the 
ice  with  artillery  to  attack  us;  he  judged 
their  number  to  be  three  thousand ;  this  was 
not  believed  by  some  of  our  leading  men, 
who  were  regaling  themselves  with  whiskey 
and  loaf  sugar;  but  the  generality  of  the 
troops  put  great  confidence  in  the  French- 
man's report,  and  expected  some  fatal  dis- 

ster  to  befall  us ;  principally  because  Gen. 

Tinchester  had  taken  up  his  head-quarters 
nearly  half  a  mile  from  any  part  of  the  en- 
campment, and  because  the  right  wing  was 
exposed.  Ensign  Harrow  was  sent  with  a 
party  of  men,  some  time  after  night,  by  the 
orders  of  Col.  Lewis,  to  bring  in  all  the  men, 
either  officers  or  privates,  that  he  might  find 
out  of  their  quarters.  After  finding  some  and 
giving  them  their  orders,  he  went  to  a  brick 
house,  about  a  mile  up  the  river,  and  entered 
a  room;  finding  it  not  occupied,  he  imme- 
diately went  above  stairs  and  saw  two  men, 
whom  he  took  to  be  British  officers,  talking 

*  This  want  of  precaution  was  a  great  cause  of  our 
mournful  defeat !     ^  .,,.-.  -. 


52 


Winchester's  campaign. 


with  the  landlord.  The  landlord  asked  him 
to  ^y■alk  down  into  a  stove  room,  and  handing 
his  bottle,  asked  him  to  drink,  and  informed 
him  "there  was  no  danger,  for  the  British 
had  not  a  force  sufficienw  to  whip  us."  So 
Harrow  returned  about  1  o'clock  and  re- 
ported to  Col.  Lewis  what  he  had  seen.  Col. 
Lewis  treated  the  report  with  coolness,  think- 
ing the  persons  seen  were  only  some  gentle- 
men from  town ;  just  at  daybreak  the  reveille 
began  to  beat,  as  usual ;  this  gave  joy  to  the 
troops,  who  had  passed  the  night  under  the 
apprehensions  of  being  attacked  before  day. 
The  reveille  had  not  been  beating  more  than 
two  minutes  before  the  sentinels  fired  three 
guns  in  quick  succession ;  this  alarmed  our 
troops,  who  quickly  formed  and  were  ready 
for  the  enemy  before  they  were  near  enough 
to  do  execution.  The  British  immediately 
discharged  their  artillery,  loaded  with  balls, 
bombs,  and  grape-shot,  which  did  little  in- 
jury ;  they  then  attempted  to  make  a  charge 
on  those  in  the  pickets,  but  were  repulsed 
with  great  loss.  Those  on  the  right  being  less 
secure  for  the  want  of  fortification,  were  over- 
powered by  a  superior  force,  and  were  or- 
dered to  retreat  to  a  more  advantageous 
piece  of  ground.  They  got  in  disorder  and 
could  not  be  formed.*  The  Indians  pursued 

*  When  the  right  wing  began  to  retreiit,  it  is  said  or- 
ders were  given  by  some  of  the  officers  to  tlic  men  in  the 


Winchester's  campaign. 


63 


them  from  all  quarteri,  and  surrounded, 
killed,  and  took  the  most  of  them.  The  enemy 
again  charged  on  the  left  with  redoubled 
vigor,  but  were  again  forced  to  retire.  Our 
men  lay  close  behind  the  picketing,  tlirough 
which  they  had  portholes,  and  every  one 
having  a  lest  took  sight,  that  his  ammunition 
might  not  b(3  spent  in  vain.  After  a  long 
and  bloody  contest,  the  enemy  finding  they 
could  not,  either  by  stratagem  or  force,  drive 
us  from  our  fortification,  retired  to  the  woods, 
leaving  their  dead  on  the  ground,  except  a 
party  that  kept  two  pieces  of  cannon  in  play 
on  our  right.  A  sleigh  was  seen  three  or  four 
hundred  yards  from  our  lines  going  towards 
the  right,  supposed  to  be  laden  with  ammu- 
nition to  supply  the  cannon.  Four  or  five 
men  rose  up  and  fired  at  once,  and  killed  the 
man  and  wounded  the  horse.  Some  Indians 
who  were  hid  behind  houses  continued  to 
annoy  us  with  scattering  balls.  At  this  time 
bread  from  the  commissary's  house  was 
handed  round  among  our  troops,  who  sat 
composedly  eating  and  watching  the  enemy 
at  the  same  time.  Being  thus  refreshed,  we 
discovered  a  white  flag  advancing  toward  i  s ; 
it  was  generally  supposed  to  be  for  a  cr;3sa- 

eastern  end  of  the  picketing  to  march  out  to  their  assist- 
ance. Capt.  Price  and  a  number  of  men  sallied  out. 
Capt.  Price  was  killed,  and  most  of  the  men. 

5* 


Ml*" 


it-, 


54 


Winchester's  campaign. 


tion  of  arms  that  our  enemies  might  carry 
off  their  dead,  which  were  numerous,  al- 
though they  had  been  bearing  away  both 
dead  and  wounded  during  the  action;  but 
how  were  we  surprised  and  mortified  when  we 
heard  that  Gen.  Winchester,  with  Col.  Lewis, 
had  been  taken  prisoners  by  the  Indian^in 
attempting  to  rally  the  right  wing,  and  that 
Gen.  Winchester  had  surrendered  us  prison- 
ers of  war  to  Col.  Proctor !  Major  Madison, 
then  the  highest  in  command,  did  not  agree 
to  this  until  Col.  Proctor  had  promised'^  that 
the  prisoners  should  be  protected  from  the 
Indians,  the  wounded  taken  care  of,  the  dead 

*  Col.  Proctor  had  informed  Gen.  Winchester  he  would 
afford  him  an  opportunity  of  surrendering  his  troops,  and 
if  not  accepted  he  would  let  loose  the  Indians  on  us,  who 
would  burn  the  town,  and  he  would  not  be  accountable 
for  their  conduct.  Gen.  Winchester,  not  knowing  how  we 
had  resisted  their  efforts,  thought  probably  it  would  be 
the  case. 

But  why  did  not  Col.  Proctor  make  this  proposition  be- 
fore he  had  exerted  all  his  skill  in  trying  to  burn  the  town 
and  to  set  the  Indians  on  us  ?  Proctor  knew  very  well 
he  had  done  all  that  was  in  his  power  with  the  force  he 
had  then,  and  he  was  then  less  able  to  rout  us  from  the 
town  than  he  was  at  first. 

The  British  informed  us  afterwards  that  Col.  Proctor 
had  ordered  a  general  retreat  to  Maiden,  and  that  they 
had  spiked  four  pieces  of  their  cannon!  but  he  thought  he 
would  demand  a  surrender,  according  to  custom. 

Our  oflicers,  knowing  that  we  had  but  little  aramuni- 
tiou,  and  the  troops  being  still  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the 
cannon,  thought  proper  to  surrender. 


;l  P. 


WINCHESTER  S  CAMPAIGN. 


55 


collected  and  buried,  and  private  property 
respected.  It  was  then  with  extreme  reluct- 
ance our  troops  accepted  this  proposition ; . 
there  was  scarcely  a  person  that  could  refrain 
from  shedding  tears  I  Some  plead  with  the 
officers  not  to  surrender,  saying  they  would 
rather  die  on  the  field!  We  had  only  ^ve 
killed,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  wounded, 
inside  of  the  pickets.  The  British  asked, 
when  they  came  in,  what  we  had  done  with 
our  dead,  as  they  saw  but  few  on  the  ground. 
A  barn  being  set  on  fire  to  drive  the  Indians 
from  behind  it,  they  concluded  that,  to  con- 
ceal our  dead,  we  had  thrown  them  into  these 
flames. 

One  of  the  houses  that  the  wounded  were 
in,  was  much  shattered  by  the  cannon  balls, 
though  only  a  few  struck  as  low  as  a  man's 
head.  The  bombs  flew  over.  Some  bnrsted 
fifty  feet  above  the  ice,  some  fell  on  t..  Ice, 
and  some  fell  over  the  river.  Notwithstand- 
ing all  their  exertions,  their  six  cannon 
(which  were  all  said  to  be  six-pounders)  did 
but  little  damage. 

In  this  battle,  officers  and  privates  exhi- 
bited the  utmost  firmness  and  bravery. 
Whilst  the  men  were  at  their  posts  firing  on 
the  enemy,  the  officers  were  passing  along 
the  lines  supplying  them  with  cartridges. 
Major  Graves,  in  passing  around  the  line, 
was  wounded  in  the  knee.    He  sat  down  in 


II,  lip 
-, 

"  >  11 
»i }  ij 

i- 1  'I 

■m. 


I    •• 


56 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


a  tent,   bound  up   his  wound,   and  cried: 
"Boys,  I  am  wounded;  never  mind  me,  but 

FIGHT  ONI" 

The  British  collected  their  troops,  and 
marched  in  front  of  the  village.  "We  marched 
out  and  grounded  our  arms,  in  heat  and  bit- 
terness of  spirit.  The  British  and  Indians 
took  possession  of  them.  But  all  the  swords, 
dirks,  tomahawks,  and  knives  were  given  up 
with  promise  that  they  should  be  restored 
again.     [This  promise  was  broken.] 

All  the  prisoners,  except  those  that  were 
badly  wounded.  Dr.  Todd,  Dr.  Bowers,  and  a 
few  attendants,  were  marched  towards  Mai- 
den. The  British  said,  as  they  had  a  great 
many  of  their  wounded  to  take  to  Maiden 
that  evening,  it  would  be  out  of  their  power 
to  take  ours  before  morning,  but  they  would 
leave  a  sufficient  guard,  so  that  they  should 
not  be  interrupted  by  the  Indians.  You  will 
presently  see  with  what  aggravating  circum- 
stances the  breach  of  this  promise  was  at- 
tended. 

Brother  Allen  Darnall  having  been  badly 
wounded  in  the  right  shoulder  on  the  18tn, 
and  I  being  appointed  to  attend  on  the 
wounded,  I  continued  with  them. 

Before  the  British  and  prisoners  marched, 
the  Indians  ransacked  the  camp,  and  got  all 
the  plunder  that  was  remaining — namely, 
tents,  kettles,  buckets,  pans,  &c. ;  then  coining 


■l;  (  ,.1 


Winchester's  campaign. 


57 


amongst  the  wounded,  greatly  insulted  them, 
and  took  some  of  their  plunder.  After  they 
went  out  I  bolted  the  door.  They  came  again 
and  broke  it  open  with  their  tomahawks.  I 
immediately  appli?d  to  a  British  officer,  and 
told  him  the  Indians  were  interrupting  the 
wounded.  He  turned  round,  and  called  to 
another  officer  to  send  the  guard.  The  In- 
dians at  that  time  had  plundered  the  com- 
missary's house  (which  was  near  the  house 
Ixi  which  the  wounded  were)  of  everything 
they  wanted,  and  piled  rails  against  it  and 
set  them  on  fire :  I,  with  the  assistance  of  two 
British  officers,  put  it  out.  One  of  the  British 
officers  (Maj.  Eundels)  inquired  where  the 
ammunition  was.  I  told  him,  if  there  was 
any,  it  was  above  stairs.  We  went  up,  but 
could  find  none.  There  was  a  large  quan- 
tity of  wheat  on  the  loft ;  he  said  it  was  a 
pity  it  was  there,  for  the  Indians  would  burn 
the  house.  I  apprehended  by  that,  the  town 
was  to  be  burned,  and  began  to  lament  our 
wretched  condition.  After  we  went  down 
stairs,  Kundels  asked  me  how  many  we  had 
killed  and  wounded  on  the  18th.  I  tol  1  him, 
but  he  very  haughtily  disputed  it.  I  had  the 
return  in  my  pocket.  He  read  it,  but  made 
no  reply. 

Those  that  remained  of  us  being  hungry, 
I  applied  to  one  of  the  British  in  the  evening 
for  some  flour,  as  there  were  a  good  many 


m 


58 


Winchester's  campaign. 


. ' 


barrels  in  the  commissary's  house,  which  I 
considered  to  belong  to  them.  He  told  me  to 
take  as  much  as  I  wanted.  I  asked  him  if 
there  was  a  guard  left  ?  He  said  there  was  no 
necessity  for  any,  for  the  Indians  were  going 
to  their  camp,  bj'\  there  were  interpreters 
left  who  would  walk  from  house  to  house  and 
see  that  we  should  not  be  interrupted.  He 
kept  walking  about  and  looking  towards  the 
road.  He  told  me  I  had  better  keep  in  the 
house,  for  the  Indians  would  as  soon  shoot 
me  as  not,  although  he  had  just  told  me  we 
should  not  be  interrupted!  I  suspected  he 
was  looking  for  Gen.  HarrLson.  Oh !  if  we 
had  seen  General  Harrison  coming  with  his 
troops,  the  wounded  would  have  leaped  for 
joy !  but  I  did  not  expect  him. 

As  they  did  not  leave  the  promised  guards 
I  lost  all  confidence  in  them,  and  expected 
we  would  be  all  massacred  before  morning. 
I  being  the  only  person  in  this  house  not 
wounded,  with  the  assistance  of  some  of  the 
wounded,  I  prepared  something  for  about 
thirty  to  eat.  The  Indians  kept  searching 
about  town  till  after  dark.  One  came  in  the 
house  who  could  talk  English,  and  said  he 
commanded  a  company  after  the  retreating 
party,  and  that  most  of  that  party  were  slain. 
He  said  the  men  gave  up  their  guns,  plead  for 
quarters,  and  offered  them  money  if  they 
would  not  kill  them;  but  his  boys,  as  he 


I     i. 


Winchester's  campaign. 


59 


called  them,  would  tomahawk  them  without 
distinction.  He  said  the  plan  that  was  fixed 
on  by  the  Indians  and  British,  before  the 
battle  commenced,  was  that  the  British  were 
to  attack  in  front  to  induce  us  to  charge  on 
them ;  500  Indians  were  placed  on  the  right 
hand  and  500  on  the  left,  to  flank  round  and 
take  possession  of  the  town ;  but  he  SD,id  we 
were  too  cunning  for  them;  we  would  not 
move  out  of  the  pickets. 

We  passed  this  night  under  the  most  se- 
rious apprehensions  of  being  massacred  by 
the  tomahawk  or  consumed  in  the  flames.  I 
frequently  went  out  during  the  night  to  see 
if  the  house  was  set  on  fire.  At  length  the 
long  wished-for  morn  arrived,  and  filled  each 
heart  with  a  cheerful  hope  of  being  delivered 
from  the  cruelty  of  those  merciless  savages. 
We  were  making  every  preparation  to  be 
ready  for  the  promised  sleighs;  but,  alas! 
instead  of  the  sleighs,  about  an  hour  by  sun 
a  great  number  of  savages,  painted  with  va- 
rious colors,  came  yelling  in  the  most  hideous 
manner  I  These  bloodthirsty,  terrific  savages 
(sent  here  by  their  more  cruel  and  perfidious 
allies,  the  British)  rushed  into  the  houses 
where  the  desponding  wounded  lay,  and  in- 
solently stripped  them  of  their  blankets  and 
all  their  best  clothes,  and  ordered  them  out 
of  the  houses!    I  ran  out  of  the  house  to 


i.'  \i 


60 


Winchester's  campaign. 


inform  the  interpreters*  what  the  Indians 
were  doing.  At  the  door,  an  Indian  took  my 
hat  and  put  it  on  his  own  head.  I  then  dis- 
covered the  Indians  had  been  at  the  other 
house  first,  and  had  used  the  wounded  in  like 
manner.  As  I  turned  to  go  back  into  the 
house,  an  Indian,  taking  hold  of  me,  made 
signs  for  me  to  stand  by  the  corner  of  the 
house.  I  made  signs  to  him  I  wanted  to  go 
in  and  get  my  hat ;  for  I  desired  to  see  wiiat 
they  had  done  with  the  wounded.  The  In- 
dians sent  in  a  boy  who  brought  out  a  hat 
and  threw  it  down  to  me,  and  I  could  not 
get  in  the  house.  Three  Indians  came  up  to 
me  and  pulled  off  my  coat.  My  feeble  pow- 
ers cannot  describe  the  dismal  scenes  here 
exhibited.  I  saw  my  fellow  soldiers,  naked 
and  wounded,  crawling  out  of  the  houses  to 
avoid  being  consumed  in  the  flames.  Some 
that  had  not  been  able  to  turn  themselves  on 
their  beds  for  four  days,  through  fear  of  be- 
ing burned  to  death,  arose  and  walked  out 
and  about  through  the  yard.  Some  cried 
for  help,  but  there  were  none  to  help  them. 
"Ah I"  exclaimed  numbers,  in  the  anguish 
of  their  spirit,  "what  shall  we  do?"  A  num- 
ber, unable  to  get  out,  miserably  perished  in 

*  I  was  since  informed  that  Col.  Elliott  instructed  the 
interpreters  to  leave  the  wounded,  after  dark,  to  the 
mercy  of  the  savages.  They  all  went  ofF,  except  one  half- 
Indian. 


;i'i 


Winchester's  campaign. 


61 


the  unrelenting  flames  of  the  houses,  kindled 
by  the  more  unrelenting  savages.  Now  the 
scenes  of  cruelty  and  murder  we  had  been 
anticipating  with  dread,  during  last  night, 
fully  commenced.  The  savages  rushed  on 
the  wounded,  and,  in  their  barbarous  manner, 
shot,  and  tomahawked,  and  scalped  them ;  and 
cruelly  mangled  their  naked  bodies  while 
they  lay  agonizing  and  weltering  in  their 
blood.  A  number  were  taken  towards  Mai- 
den, but  being  unable  to  march  with  speed, 
were  inhumanly  massacred.  The  road  was, 
for  miles,  strewed  with  the  mangled  bodies, 
and  all  of  them  were  left  like  those  slain  in 
battle,  on  the  22d,  for  birds  and  beasts  to  tear 
in  pieces  and  devour.  The  Indians  plundered 
the  town  of  everything  valuable,  and  set  the 
best  houses  on  fii^e.  The  Indian  who  claimed 
me,  gave  me  a  coat,  and  when  he  had  got  as 
much  plunder  as  he  could  carry,  he  ordered 
me,  by  signs,  to  march,  which  I  did,  with  ex- 
treme reluctance,  in  company  with  three  of 
the  wounded  and  six  or  seven  Indians.  In 
travelling  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  two  of 
the  wounded  lagged  behind  about  twenty 
yards.  The  Indians,  turning  round,  shot  one 
and  scalped  him.  They  shot  at  the  other  and 
missed  him ;  he,  running  up  to  them,  begged 
that  they  would  not  shoot  him.  He  said  he 
would  keep  up,  and  give  them  money.  But 
these  murderers  were  not  moved  with  his 
6 


hi: 


m 


62 


Winchester's  campaign. 


*ili 


doleful  cries.  They  shot  him  down ;  and, 
rushing  on  him  in  a  crowd,  scalped  him.  In 
like  manner  my  brother  Allen  perished.  He 
marched  with  difficulty  after  the  woundec\ 
about  two  or  three  hundred  yards,  and  was 
there  barbarously  murdered.  My  feelings 
at  the  sight  and  recollection  of  these  inhuman 
butcheries  cannot  be  described.  In  addition 
to  these  deep  sorrows  for  the  mournful  fate 
of  my  companions,  and  the  cruel  death  of  a 
dear  brother,  I  expected  every  moment,  for 
a  considerable  time,  that  the  same  kind  of 
cruelty  and  death  would  be  my  portion.  The 
Indians  that  guarded  me  and  one  of  the 
wounded,  observing  our  consternation,  one 
that  could  talk  English  said,  "We  will  not 
shoot  you."  This  a  little  revived  our  hopes, 
that  were  almost  gone  ;*  and  he,  having  cut 

*  Upon  taking  a  view  of  these  scenes  of  wo,  who  can 
fivoid  some  such  exclamation  as  the  following  ?  Why  has 
the  all-seeing,  beneficent  Pailer  of  the  universe  delivered 
60  many  of  our  choice  officers  and  bravo  soldiers  into  the 
hands  of  our  enemies,  to  be  slain  in  battle,  and  to  lie  un- 
buried,  to  be  dragged  away  in  the  galling  chains  of  cap- 
tivity, and  to  be  put  to  torturing  deaths  by  monsters  of 
cruelty  ?  Not,  I  presume,  because  of  infidelity  and  in- 
justice towards  our  enemies ;  but  owing  to  our  ingratitude 
towards  the  God  of  armies ;  and  to  our  want  of  confidence 
in  Jehovah — our  pride,  our  too  great  confidence  in  our 
own  wisdom,  valor,  and  strength ;  our  unbelief — and  a 
catalogue  of  vices  too  tedious  to  enumerate.  Aggravated 
national  crimes  have  involved  us  in  heavy  and  comi^licated 
judgments ! 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


63 


i: 


one 
not 


a  piece,  hide  and  all,  of  a  dead  cow,  started. 
It  is  their  common  practice  to  kill  a  cow  or 
hog,  and  take  a  piece,  and  leave  the  rest.  In 
travelling  two  miles,  we  came  to  a  house 
where  there  were  two  British  officers;  the 
Indian  made  a  halt,  and  I  asked  one  of  the 
officers  what  the  Indian  was  going  to  do  with 
me ;  he  said  he  was  going  to  take  me  to  Am- 
herstburg  (or  Maiden).  I  judged  these  vil- 
lains had  instructed  the  Indians  to  do  what 
they  had  done.  A  few  miles  farther,  we  came 
to  the  Indian  encampment,  where  there  were  a 
great  many  hallooing  and  yelling  in  a  hideous 
manner.  I  thought  this  my  place  of  destiny. 
The  Indian  took  off  my  pack,  broiled  a  piece 
of  meat  and  gave  me  part ;  this  I  ate  merely 
in  obedience  to  him.  Then  we  started  and 
arrived  at  Amherstburg,  eighteen  miles  from 
Frenchtown.  The  other  prisoners  had  just 
arrived.  The  British  were  firing  their  salute. 
The  Indian  took  me  into  a  house  not  far  from 
the  fort;  it  was  probably  their  council  house; 
it  would  have  held  500.  It  was  inhabited  by 
a  large  number  of  squaws,  children,  and  dogs. 
They  welcomed  me  by  giving  me  some  bread, 
meat  and  hominy  to  eat.  After  this  an  In- 
dian asked  me  if  I  had  a  squaw ;  I  told  him 
not ;  he  immediately  turned  round  and  talked 
to  the  squaws  in  Indian,  while  I  sat  in  a  pen- 
sive mood  observing  their  motions.  I  dis- 
covered the  squaws  were  pleased,  by  their 


I- 


64 


Winchester's  campaign. 


'M 


'  if 


f. 


tittering  and  grinning ;  one,  I  observed,  had 
a  great  desire  to  express  her  joy  by  showing 
her  teeth ;  but  the  length  of  time  she  had 
lived  in  this  world  had  put  it  out  of  her  pow- 
er. I  suspected,  from  their  manceuvres,  I 
would  have  to  undergo  a  disagreeable  adop- 
tion (as  other  prisoners  had  done) — and, 
what  was  a  task  still  more  unpleasant,  to  be 
united  in  the  conjugal  band  to  one  of  these 
swarthy,  disgustful  animals.  The  Indian 
asked  me  a  few  questions — where  we  had 
come  from — how  far  it  was — when  we  started 
— and  if  there  were  any  more  coming.  In 
reply  to  these  questions,  I  gave  him  but  little 
satisfaction.  After  this  they  spread  blankets 
down,  and  made  signs  for  me  to  go  to  bed.  I 
did,  and  soon  fell  asleep,  as  I  was  much  fa- 
tigued and  had  not  slept  much  for  four  nights 
past.  Early  next  morning,  the  Indian  col- 
lected his  family  and  all  his  i>roperty,  and 
staned :  I  knew  not  wher^  he  was  going ;  he 
gave  me  a  knapsack  and  gun  to  carry.  Now 
I  despaired  of  getting  with  the  other  prison- 
ers, unless  I  could  desert  from  the  Indians! 
I  expected  I  would  be  taken  to  an  Indian 
town,  there  to  undergo  a  disagreeable  adop- 
tion, or  to  be  burned  to  death  with  firebrands. 
As  he  took  me  near  Fort  Maiden,  I  took  as 
good  a  view  of  it  as  I  could  while  I  passed  it. 
It  stands  about  thirty  yards  from  the  river 
bank.    I  judged  it  to  be  seventy  or  eighty 


Winchester's  campaign. 


65 


yards  square ;  the  wall  appeared  to  be  built 
of  timber  and  clay.  The  side,  from  the  river, 
was  not  walled,  but  had  double  pickets,  and 
entrenched  round,  about  four  feet  deep ;  and 
in  the  entrenchment  was  the  second  row  of 
pickets.  As  we  went  on  through  the  edge 
of  town  (Amherstburg)  I  asked  an  English- 
man where  the  other  prisoners  were?  He 
said  they  were  in  town,  in  a  wood-yard ;  the 
Indian  hurried  me  along  and  would  not  let 
me  talk  to  the  Englishman.  The  Indian  had 
a  little  horse,  packed  with  his  plunder,  which 
I  resolved  to  take,  if  possible,  and  ride  into 
town  that  night.  -  • 

He  took  me  to  his  place  of  residence,  about 
three  miJes  from  Maiden.  I  was  anxious  for 
the  approach  of  night,  so  that  I  might  make 
my  escape.  While  I  was  consoling  myself 
with  the  anticipation  of  seeing  my  fellow 
sufferers  at  Maiden,  night  made  its  approach. 
Some  time  after  dark  the  Indian  spread  blank- 
ets down,  and  made  signs  for  me  to  lie  down, 
and  put  my  coat,  shoes,  and  socks,  under  his 
own  head.  I  wanted  him  \o  leave  my  socks 
on,  for  my  feet  would  get  cold ;  he  made  signs 
to  warm  them  by  the  fire.  Thus  I  was  sadly 
disappointed. 

Next  day  he  examined  all  his  plunder.  He 
had  a  very  good  suit  of  clothes,  besides  seve- 
ral other  coats,  socks,  shoes,  &c. ;  among 
these  were  Wesley's  Sermons  and  a  great 

6* 


66 


Winchester's  campaign. 


many  papers,  which  he  gave  me  to  read.  I 
found  several  old  letters,  but  nothing  of  value. 
He  discoverf  d  I  wanted  to  shave,  and  got  his 
razor,  shav  ng-box,  and  a  piece  of  glass,  and 
made  signs  for  me  to  shave.  After  this,  I 
lay  down  on  some  blankets  and  fell  asleep. 
He  came  and  awoke  me,  and  gave  me  a  twist 
of  tobacco,  which  I  received  as  a  token  of 
friendship.  In  a  short  time  after,  he  started 
to  Maiden,  and  made  signs  for  me  to  stay 
there  till  he  would  come  back.  He  returned 
in  the  evening  with  a  blanket,  tied  full  of 
loaves  of  bread,  just  out  of  the  oven,  besides 
some  meat.  The  Indians  always  gave  me  a 
plenty  to  eat ;  and  served  me  before  any  of 
the  family,  with  more  politeness  than  I  ex- 
pected to  find  amongst  them.  He  had  drawn 
some  money.  I  asked  him  to  let  me  look  at 
it.  I  found  it  to  be  pieces  of  cards  with  the 
number  of  livres  written  on  them. 

The  third  night  at  length  arrived ;  and  he 
made  my  bed  as  usual ;  and  took  my  coat 
and  shoes,  but  accidentally  left  my  socks  on. 
I  lay  down  with  the  determination  to  leave 
him  before  morning.  I  slept  very  well  for 
awhile.  When  I  awoke,  the  house  was  dark. 
I  thought  this  as  good  a,n  opportunity  of  de- 
serting as  I  could  get,  but  with  consiuGrable 
timidity  I  made  the  attempt.  I  crawled  to 
the  door  very  easily,  and  raised  the  blanket 
that  hung  up  at  the  door;  just  as  I  was  going 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


# 


,t: 


out  he  coughed,  and  I  stopped  until  I  thought 
he  was  asleep,  and  then  started,  without  shoes 
or  coat,  to  Amherstburg.  When  I  got  there, 
I  examined  several  yards  and  gardens  to  see 
if  there  was  any  fire.  After  going  through 
many  streets,  I  turned  my  course  towards 
the  river,  and  accidentally  came  to  the  house 
where  the  prisoners  were.  The  sentinel,  who 
was  standing  at  the  door,  let  me  in  without 
much  ceremony.  Providence  smiled  on  this 
attempt  to  extricate  myself  from  the  Indians. 
Thus,  through  mercy,  I  escaped  from  the 
savages,  and  was  delivered  from  the  doleful 
apprehensions  of  being  sacrificed  in  some 
barbarous  and  cruel  manner,  to  gratify  their 
bloodthirsty  souls.  I  got  in  between  two  of 
my  comrades  who  were  lying  next  to  the 
door.  My  feet  were  almost  frozen  before 
morning. 

During  my  captivity  with  the  Indians,  the 
other  prisoners  were  treated  very  inhumanly. 
The  first  night,  they  were  put  in  a  wood-yard ; 
the  rain  commenced  early  in  the  night,  and 
put  out  all  their  fires.  In  this  manner  they 
passed  a  tedious  night,  wet,  and  benumbed 
with  cold.  From  this  place  they  were  taken 
to  a  cold  warehouse,  still  deprived  of  fire, 
with  their  clothes  and  blankets  frozen,  and 
nothing  to  eat  but  a  little  bread.  In  this 
wretched  condition  they  continued  two  days 
and  three  nights ! 


M 

'     I 

y 


if' 

'm 


I'lli 


Id 


iff 


I 


\% 


68 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


.  r... 


26th.  The  Indians  came  early  in  the  morn- 
ing to  search  for  me,  but  they  were  not  ad- 
mitted into  the  house.  The  guard  said  it 
would  be  well  for  me  to  keep  as  much  con- 
cealed a,;  3  possible,  for  if  the  Indian  I  had  left 
could  g'jt  me  he  would  kill  me.  He  came  to 
the  door,  and  made  motions  to  show  how  he 
would  scalp  me.  I  disguised  myself  by  chang- 
ing my  clothes  and  tying  up  my  head,  so  that 
he  did  not  know  me. 

The  prisoners  being  destined  to  Fort  George, 
were  divided  in  two  divisions,  the  first  to  keep 
a  day's  march  before  the  second,  in  order, 
probably,  to  be  better  supplied  \\T.th  provisions 
on  the  way. 

I  being  attached  to  the  first  division,  the 
Indians  examined  the  lines  very  closely  for 
me,  but  not  possessing  discernment  sufficient 
to  know  me,  I  fortunately  escaped. 

Maiden,  or  Amherstburg,  is  situated  on  the 
east  side  of  Detroit  Eiver,  near  its  junction 
with  Lake  Erie,  and  contains  about  one  hun- 
dred houses,  mostly  frame ;  in  lat.  42°  22' 
N.,  long.  8°  3'  W.  from  Philadelphia. 

We  set  out  from  this  town,  and  marched 
seventeen  miles  to  Sandwich,  a  small  town 
on  the  east  side  of  Detroit  Eiver,  and  one 
mile  below  Detroit ;  it  contains  perhaps  about 
three  hundred  inhabitants.  We  were  divided 
in  small  companies,  and  put  into  diiEferent 


u 


Winchester's  campaign. 


69 


houses,  where  we  had  the  happiness  once  more 
to  see  fire. 

27 th.  We  drew  a  ration  of  bread  and  fresh 
beef,  but  no  salt,  and  had  no  way  of  cooking 
the  beef.  We  commenced  our  march  at  1 
o'clock,  and  marched  ten  miles,  part  of  the 
way  on  Lake  St.  Clair.  In  the  eveninoc  we 
were  conducted  to  cold  barns,  and  there  shut 
up  till  morning,  deprived  of  fire. 

2Sth,  We  recommenced  our  march  early, 
as  cold  a  morning  as  ever  I  experienced,  and 
continued  twenty- four  miles  on  Lake  St. 
Clair ;  at  night  we  were  conducted  to  a  cold 
barn  on  the  beach ;  we  lay  without  fire,  ex- 
cept a  few  who  could  not  get  in,  who  had  the 
happiness  of  encamping  in  the  woods. 

29th,  We  again  resumed  our  march,  and 
continued  on  the  lake  fifteen  miles  to  the 
mouth  of  La  Tranche  Eiver,  called  by  some 
the  Eiver  Thames ;  during  this  time  we  had 
to  run  to  keep  ourselves  from  freezing ;  we 
continued  up  the  river  five  miles,  and  stopped 
while  the  guard  went  in  to  warm  and  to  get 
their  dinner.  Having  drawn  no  provisions 
since  we  left  Sandwich,  some  of  the  prisoners 
were  driven  to  the  necessity  of  picking  up 
frozen  potatoes  and  apple  peelings  that  had 
been  thrown  out  in  the  yard.  One  of  the 
prisoners,  being  unable  to  keep  pace  with  the 
rest,  was  left  on  the  lake,  but  was  accidentally 
overtaken  by  a  sleigh  and  brought  on.  After 


'1 


■  m 


■n 


V.TtA 

M 


it 


i-; 


Ih'iu 


Winchester's  campaign. 


ifl^ 


being  in  a  stove  room  some  time,  he  was  led 
out  to  marcli,  trembling  with  cold.  One  of  tlie 
guard  observed,  "  he  was  a  man  of  no  spirit 
to  freeze  such  a  day  as  this."  So  barbarous 
were  their  dispositions  and  treatment,  that  I 
concluded  we  should  die  of  cold  and  hunger. 
We  marched  ten  miles  farther  to  Captain  I)ol- 
son's,  where  we  were  conducted  into  a  large 
still-house.  A  number  lodged  below  among 
the  still-tubs  by  the  fire ;  the  rest  on  the  loft, 
where  they  were  annoyed  with  the  smoke. 
Somo  time  in  the  night  they  brought  us  a 
little  bread  and  meat. 

SOth.  We  drew  two  days'  provisions,  and 
cooked  it. 

Slst,  It  snowed  all  day ;  notwithstanding, 
we  marched  twenty-four  miles  ar^^  were  shut 
-up  in  a  barn  wet  and  cold.  Going  to  a  barn 
to  lodge  so  cold  an  evening  was  like  ap- 
proaching a  formidable  enemy,  for  we  ex- 
pected to  perish  with  cold  in  the  dreary  dwell- 
ing. Many  got  their  feet  frostbitten.  We  tried 
in  vain  to  keep  our  shoes  from  freezing  by 
putting  them  under  our  heads. 

February  1.  We  continued  our  march  twen- 
ty-two miles  in  a  thinly  settled  country,  and 
passed  through  the  Moravian  nation  of  In- 
dians; in  the  evening  we  encamped  in  the 
woods. 

2d.  We  marched  twentj^'-iwo  miles,  suffer- 
ing greatly  both  with  hunger  and  cold.   In 


I . 


I 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


fei^ 


the  evening  we  arrived  at  Delaware  township, 
a  small  settlement  on  the  Kiver  La  Tranche. 
We  were  divided  into  small  companies,  and 
were  permitted  to  lodge  in  houses  by  fires. 

Sd.  We  had  been  two  days  without  provi- 
sions. Here  we  drew  rations  for  three  days. 
Capt.  Dolson  left  us  to-day;  the  prisoners 
must  forever  detest  his  baseness  and  cruelty. 
We  resumed  our  march  in  the  evening  and 
continued  five  miles,  notwithstanding  the 
snow  was  two  feet  deep,  and  it  was  then  snow- 
ing.  We  were  better  treated  by  our  new  guard. 

4:th.  We  marched  twenty-six  miles  to  the 
head  waters  of  the  Eiver  Thames,  to  Oxford 
township,  a  settlement  of  ten  or  twelve  miles 
in  length.  - 

6th,  We  marched  two  miles,  and  were  de- 
tained for  a  supply  of  provisions.*  After  being 


ji  ii 


\i'l 


I 


*  Here  we  met  a  number  of  the  41  st  regiment  of  British 
regulars,  just  from  Fort  George,  going  to  Maiden  to  sup- 
ply the  places  of  those  who  were  killed  on  the  22d  of 
January,  at  Frenchtown.  They  appeared  to  be  very 
sociable,  generally  of  the  Irish  descent.  One  of  their 
officers  said,  *'In  a  few  weeks  they  would  drive  General 
Harrison  and  all  his  army  along  there."  "  Yes,"  replied 
.James  Allen*  (who  was  one  of  my  messmates),  "before 
that  time  your  Irish  hides  will  be  riddled  so  that  they 
would  not  hold  hickory  nuts." 

Another  of  that  party  said,  "What  nonsensical  things 


*  This  Allen  is  the  same  who  fought  the  duel  with  Fuller,  near  Fort 

Massac,  who  was  supposed  to  bo  a  British  spy,  before  the  comuience- 

munt  of  the  war.    Fuller,  after  havin;;  b'^on  twice  knocked  down  by 

.  AUon's  balls,  was  found  to  have  a  Dutch  blanket  folded,  and  a  quiro 

of  paper  over  his  cowakdly  breast  as  a  shield.   Allen  was  not  injured. 


«| 


i 


:i>. 


ri»: 


72 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


^. 


supplied  we  continued  our  march  in  the 
evening  three  miles  farther,  and  where  we 
lodged  were  treated  very  civilly  by  the  in- 
habitants. 

6th.  After  marching  twenty-four  miles, 
principally  through  a  wildernes  >,  we  arrived 
at  Burford  township* 

those  lencher  stocks  were  which  we  wore,  with  the  sign 
of  the  eagle  pecking  out  the  eyes  of  the  lion."  Said  Allen, 
♦•  This  is  on'y  the  shadow,  the  substance  will  soon  follow." 
*  Six  of  us,  who  formed  a  mess,  e topped  ^t  a  Major 
Boon's,  and  asked  him  "  if  we  might  stay  all  night."  He 
said  we  could.  His  father,  who  lived  with  him,  let  us 
know  he  had  been  a  Tory  major  in  the  American  revolu- 
tion. He  said  "he  had  lived  in  the  Jerseys,  and  had  one 
of  Lord  Howe's  commissions  in  the  house  then,  and  was 
a  half-pay  officer."  He  said  "the  Americans  would  have 
no  possible  chance  to  take  Canada,  for  the  British  next 
spring  would  bring  seventy  thousand  Indians  from  the 
north-west,  and  as  many  negroes  from  St.  Domingo,  be- 
sides three  hundred  thousand  Turks !"  Said  James  Allen, 
"  I  suppose  you  will  set  dogs  on  us  next !"  The  old  fel- 
low said  "it  was  very  evident  the  Lord  was  on  their 
sidel"  Then  said  Allen,  "If  the  Lord  has  joined  with 
the  British,  savages,  and  negroes,  to  massacre  his  own 
people,  it  is  surprising !  But  I  rather  think  it  is  only 
your  Canadian  lord  that  acts  in  this  manner."  The  old 
fellow  then  ordered  hira  out  of  the  house.  He  told  him 
*|he  was  very  well  suited  in  a  room,  and  would  stay  till 
morning."  They  still  continued  arguing.  The  old  fellow 
said  *'We  had  no  business  on  their  soil,"  alluding  to 
French  town.  Allen  told  him  "we  were  on  our  own 
soil."  He  said  "it  was  a  lie,  for  Michigan  Territory  was 
given  up  to  them  by  General  Hull."     Said  Allen,   "Hull 

was  such  a  fellow  as  the  d 1,  who  oflFered  Christ  all 

the  kingdoms  of  the  world  if  he  would  fall  down  and 
worship  him ;  when,  poor  old  sneaking  whelp,  he  did  not 


n 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


73 


7th,  In  marching  thirty  miles  to  a  little 
village  near  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  we 


r ' ! 


g  to 
own 


own  a  foot  on  earth."  Said  Boon,  **  You  had  better  stayed 
away,  for  all  you  have  done ;  the  Major  who  commanded 
the  Indians  on  the  18th  was  here  a  few  nights  ago,  and 
said  there  '^as  not  one  killed,  and  but  three  wounded." 
Said  Allen,  "  I  would  not  believe  my  father  if  he  were  to 
tell  me  so,  for  I  saw  a  number  that  were  killed  and  scalped 
and  lay  on  the  snow  for  days ;  and  if  there  were  but  three 
wounded,  there  must  have  been  an  abundance  of  blood 
in  them  to  have  stained  the  snow  for  miles  square."  Said 
he,  ♦*  Did  you  scalp  them?  you  are  bloody  dogs."  "Yes," 
said  Allen,  "you  might  say  so,  if  we  had  hired  the  sa- 
vages to  kill  your  women  and  children,  and  massacre  and 
burn  your  wounded,  when  we  had  promised  to  take  care 
of  them."  He  said  *•  the  British  had  never  hired  the  In- 
dians to  kill  women  and  children ;  they  were  too  humane 
a  people  to  do  so."  "Yes,"  said  Allen,  "they  showed 
humanity  in  the  time  of  the  American  Revolution,  when 
they  paid  the  Indians  for  infants'  scalps  that  were  taken 
out  of  their  mothers'  wombs ;  they  call  themselves  Christ- 
ians, and  when  the  Indians  sent  home  to  them  scalps, 
from  the  unborn  infant  to  the  gray  hairs,  in  bales  like 
goods,  they  had  days  of  feasting,  rejoicing,  pnd  thanks- 
giving to  the  Lord,  for  the  victory  they  had  gained — the 

d 1  would  be  ashamed  to  acknowledge  such  a  people 

as  any  part  of  his  oflFspring."  The  old  fellow  again  or- 
dered him  out  of  the  house ;  but  Allen  told  him  **  he 
would  go  in  the  morning."  Allen  said  "we  had  more 
friends  in  Canada  than  they  had."  "Yes,"  said  he, 
"there  are  men  mean  enough  to  join  against  their  own 
country."  Allen  replied,  "none  but  a  mean,  low-lived 
wretch  would  fight  against  his  own  country."  The  old 
fellow  took  the  hint,  as  he  had  been  a  tory,  and  got  in  a 
violent  passion.  He  asked  Allen  "if  he  was  not  a  Con- 
gressman?" Allen  said  "  No."  "  Are  you  an  Assembly- 
man?" " No."  "  Are  you  a  Yankee  lawyer?"  " No." 
"Well,  you  are  a  Yankee  liar,  then."     .lUeu  said,  "if 


' '  ill 

m 


I 


■'■■» 


m 


<1    ii 

I! 


m 


1 '  "r^-*  ( 


.*•' .;. 


t  t 

•'  ^. 

!  "fBP! 

iiip 

llnr.  ik-i;: 

74 


Winchester's  campaign. 


passed  through  the  Mohawk  Nation  of  In- 
dians on  Grand  Eiver,  who  are  much  whiter 
than  any  we  have  seen ;  their  mode  of  dress 
is  not  different  from  other  Indian  nations, 
and  they  have  the  same  savage  appearance ; 
we  were  informed  that  there  are  six  nations 
on  this  river  who  hold  a  large  body  of  the 
best  land. 

Sth,  We  drew  our  rations  and  proceeded 
on  sixteen  miles.  In  going  down  towards 
Lake  Ontario,  we  descended  a  precipice  up- 
wards of  two  hundred  feet  into  a  level  coun- 
try; this  precipice  extends  across  Niagara 
Eiver,  and  occasions  those  remarkable  falls. 

9th,  We  marched  eighteen  miles  through 
a  well-settled  country. 

Tre  were  of  an  age,  and  on  an  equal  footing,  you  would 
not  give  me  the  lie  so  often."  The  old  fellow  told  Allen 
"he  must  be  an  antediluvian,  for  he  appeared  tr  know 
all  things  that  had  passed,  and  all  the  crimes  th  w  Eng- 
land ever  committed  seemed  to  be  fresh  on  his  mind ;  he 
supposed  he  was  one  of  the  greatest  enemies  the  British 
had."  Allen  said  '*  he  had  done  his  best;  and  if  he  was 
exchanged  he  would  shoot  at  them  as  long  as  he  could 
crook  his  finger  to  draw  the  trigger."  A  young  woman 
who  was  in  the  house  said  "we  were  only  coming  to 
drive  them  oft'  their  lands."  Allen  said  "we  were  only 
coming  to  set  them  free,  so  that  those  lands  might  be 
their  own,  and  not  King  George's."  She  said  "the  Ame- 
ricans that  were  killed  at  Queenstown  had  deeds  in  their 
pockets  for  all  their  best  plantations."  Said  Allen  "I 
must  believe  it  because  you  say  so,  but  if  I  had  seen  it 
myself  I  would  not." 

The  old  fellow's  passion  subsided,  and  Allen  and  he 
were  friendly. 


WINCHESTER'S  CAMPAIGN. 


75 


10/^.  "We  marclied  sixteen  miles  to  New- 
ark, lately  called  Niagara  West ;  it  contains 
about  five  hundred  inhabitants ;  many  of  the 
buildings  are  handsome,  composed  of  brick 
and  stone ;  it  has  several  churches,  an  aca- 
demy, six  taverns,  and  about  twenty  stores ; 
it  is  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Niagara 
Eiver,  in  lat.  43°  15'  N.,  long.  4°  west;  Fort 
George  stands  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
town. 

We  continued  here  no  longer  than  was 
necessary  to  make  arrangements  to  cross  the 
river.  A  British  officer  took  do\vn  our  names, 
and  the  regiment  and  company  we 'belonged 
to,  and  said  "we  must  not  take  up  arms 
against  Great  Britain  and  her  allies  until 
legally  exchanged."  Thus  we  were  paroUed ; 
they  hoisted  a  flag  and  took  us  across  Niagara 
Eiver,*  which  is  about  one-quarter  of  a  mile 


fill 


i;j  ia ! 


*  The  second  division,  who  had  been  used  far  better 
than  the  first,  arrived  the  day  following,  and  were  pa- 
rolled  in  like  manner,  amounting  in  all  to  five  hundred 
and  twelve. 

Particular  inquiries  were  made  respecting  the  British 
loss  in  the  battle  of  the  22d,  while  passing  through  Ca- 
nada. The  loyalists  stated  their  loss  to.be  very  trifling ; 
some  would  say  fifteen  killed,  and  others  twenty-five. 
But  different  persons,  in  whom  we  had  reason  to  place 
confidence,  stated  their  loss  to  be  very  considerable — 
about  six  hundred  killed  and  wounded,  and  amongst 
these  Col.  St.  George.  This  account  will  not  be  consi- 
dered exaggerated,  when  reflecting  on  the  length  of  time 
they  were  exposed  to  a  deliberate  and  well-directed  fire 


41 


76 


Winchester's  campaign. 


wide  to  Fort  Niagara,  which  is  situated  at 
the  junction  of  Niagara  Eiver  and  Lake  On- 
tario, in  New  York  State ;  it  is  strongly  for- 
tified, and  well  supplied  with  artillery. 


A  FEW  REMARKS  RESPECTING  UPPER  CANADA 
AND  ITS  INHABITANTS. 

From  Maiden  to  Sandwich,  and  a  consider- 
able distance  up  St.  Clair,  resembles  a  level 
plain  thickly  interspersed  with  farms  and 
houses;  many  places  look  like  little  villages. 
The  houses  are  principally  frame,  and  have 
an  ancient  appearance.  Besides  being  well 
supplied  with  grain  from  their  farms,  they  re- 
ceive considerable  benefit  from  their  orchards. 

The  Eiver  La  Tranche  is  a  considerable 
navigable  stream,  and  runs  a  westerly  course 
into  Lake  St.  Clair ;  the  land  near  it  is  rich 
and  fertile ;  the  timber  is  oak,  ash,  hickory, 
walnut,  sugar  tree,  &c.  It  is  thickly  settled 
as  far  as  Moraviantown ;  but,  from  the  river 

from  our  troops... the  number  that  was  seen  lying  on  the 
ground  after  they  retreated,  and  the  number  of  sleighs 
loaded  with  their  bloody  guns. 


i_. 


WINCHESTER  S  CAMPAIGN. 


77 


on  the  nortli  side,  is  an  extensive  wilderness 
of  poor  swampy  land.  From  Moraviantown 
to  Grand  River  is  a  wilderness  of  poor  piney 
land,  except  Delaware,  Oxford,  and  Burford 
townships,  which  are  tolerable  settlements. 
From  Grand  River  to  Fort  George,  is  a  rich, 
well-settled  country,  particularly  along  Lake 
Ontario.  The  inhabitants  are  composed  of 
English,  French,  Dutch,  and  a  great  many 
emigrants  from  the  United  States.  The 
whole  has  been  estimated  at  eighty  thousand; 
besides  these,  there  are  unknown  numbers  of 
Indians.  The  Canadians  are  generally  a  well- 
looking  people,  remarkably  fair,  but  not  well 
informed.  They  do  not  set  a  great  value  on 
education,  and  it  is  not  encouraged  by  the 
government.  Although  their  laws  appear  to 
be  moderate,  yet  neither  the  freedom  of  speech 
nor  the  freedom  of  the  press  is  encouraged. 
The  o£&cers  are  haughty  and  tyrannical  in 
the  execution  of  their  orders.  I  learned  that 
a  majority*  of  the  inhabitants  were  in  favor 
of  the  United  States  government,  and  many 

*  An  inhabitant  near  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario  heard 
of  the  prisoners,  and  went  to  see  them.  He  began  to 
talk  to  one,  judging  him  to  be  an  American  ofl&cer,  and 
telling  him  he  had  more  friends  in  Canada  than  the  British 
had,  and  if  he  wanted  money,  or  any  assistance,  he  should 
be  accommodated.  The  poor  fellow  soon  found  his  mis- 
take, that  he  was  talking  to  a  British  officer,  just  from 
Fort  George.    . 

7* 


M 


M 


i' 


hi 


78 


Winchester's  campaign. 


had  concealed  themselves  to  avoid  taking  up 
arms. 

The  British  forces  consist  of  regulars, 
flankers,  militia,  Negroes^  and  Indians.  Agree- 
ably to  an  act  of  their  assembly  in  1812,  their 
flankers  are  riflemen,  volunteered  or  drafted 
for  the  term  of  six  months,  and  longer  if  not 
then  relieved.  The  militia  cannot  be  called 
into  service  for  more  than  twenty  days,  un- 
less their  country  is  invaded.  I  heard  of  two 
companies  of  Negroes^  runaways  from  Ken- 
tucky, and  other  States,  who  are  commanded 
by  white  men.  A  great  many  of  the  Indians 
are  stationed  near  the  lines,  who  can  be  called 
to  arms  at  a  minute's  warning. 

11^^.  After  regaling  ourselves  on  the  plenty 
of  food  and  drink  afforded  us  in  the  land  of 
liberty,  we  set  our  faces  homewards.  One 
mile  from  Niagara  Fort,  we  came  to  Salt  Bat- 
tery ;  it  was  composed  of  barrels  of  salt  and 
dirt.  From  this  they  could  play  upon  Fort 
George.  We  proceeded  up  the  river  eight 
miles  to  Lewistown,  which  is  on  the  east  bank 
of  Niagara  Eiver,  opposite  Queenstown,  and 
contains  only  a  few  houses ;  eight  miles  far- 
ther, we  came  to  Grand  Niagara,  a  small  vil- 
lage on  the  east  bank  of  Niagara  River  just 
above  the  "falls,  and  nearly  opposite  Chippe- 
way.  Above  the  falls,  in  the  middle  of  the 
river,  is  an  island  about  three  hundred  yards 


Winchester's  campaign. 


79 


long,  the  lower  end  of  which  is  just  at  the 
perpendicular  edge  of  the  fall.  On  both 
sides  of  this  island,  all  the  waters  of  the 
rivers  and  lakes  to  the  north-west,  fall  down 
a  precipice  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
feet  perpendicular,  and  fall  near  as  much  more 
in  a  rapid  of  nine  miles  below.  Before  the 
water  comes  to  the  fall,  as  it  passes  the  island, 
it  seems  in  swiftness  to  outfly  an  arrow. 

12ih,  We  arrived  at  Black  Kock,  nineteen 
miles  above  the  falls.  Here  is  a  considerable 
village,  a  navy  yard,  and  three  batteries  well 
furnished  with  cannon.  It  took  its  name 
from  its  rocky  situation.  From  this  we  con- 
tinued on  two  miles  and  a  half  to  Buffalo, 
the  capital  of  Buffalo  county.  New  York 
State.  It  is  situated  at  the[foot  of  Lake  Erie, 
opposite  to  Fort  Erie. 

We  continued  at  Buffalo  one  day,  on  ac- 
count of  the  badness  of  the  weather,  and  then 
continued  our  march  thirty -two  miles  on  the 
lake,  and  then  marched  through  a  well-set- 
tled country  to  Erie,  the  county  town  of  Erie 
county,  in  Pennsylvania.  It  is  ninety  miles 
from  Buffalo,  and  is  situated  on  the  south- 
east shore  of  Lake  Erie.  We  proceeded  on 
by  the  way  of  Waterford  and  Meadville,  one 
hundred  and  twenty  miles,  to  Pittsburgh,  and 
from  Pittsburgh  to  Kentucky,  by  water. 

Language  fails  to  express  the  emotions  I 


Hi 


m 


4 , 


80 


WINCHSSTEH'S  CAMPAIGN. 


felt  on  arriving  safely  at  home,  to  enjoy  the 
caresses  and  socK'ty  of  dear  friends,  after 
having  endured  so  miicli  ftitigue,  and  having 
been  so  often  exposed  to  imminent  danger ; 
and  having  so  frequently  expected  death,  at- 
tended with  all  the  hoirors  of  Indian  crudty. 


\\ 


K 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


!i 


MR.  TIMOTHY  MALLABY 


DuKiNG  the  battle  on  the  22d  January, 
1813,  at  Frenchtown,  on  the  River  ;Raisin, 
between  the  combined  forces  of  British, 
Canadians,  and  Indians,  and  the  American 
forces,  I  received  a  wound  from  a  piece  of 
plank,  which  had  been  split  off  by  a  cannon 
ball.  It  struck  me  on  the  side,  and  unfortu- 
nately broke  three  of  my  ribs.  The  battle 
having  terminated  in  favor  of  the  combined 
forces,  and  I  not  being  able  to  travel  with 
those  American  prisoners  who  were  to  march 
immediately  for  Maiden,  I  remained  on  the 
ground  until  the  next  morning,  with  the  rest 
of  my  wounded  countrymen,  who  had  re- 
ceived a  solemn  promise  from  the  British 
commander,  that  they  should  be  taken  to 
Maiden  in  sleighs. 

This  sacred  promise  was  not  regarded  I  It 
was  sacrificed  on  the  altar  of  savage  bar- 
barity I  to  the  god  of  murder  and  cruelty  I 


1 


WW 


r 


82 


mallary's  narrative. 


Instead  of  sleigliE,  Indians  were  sent  prepared 
to  murder  these  unfortunate  victims!  who, 
after  they  had  executed  in  part  their  purpose 
on  the  ground  where  we  lay,  ordered  several 
other  prisoners  and  myself  to  march  for  Mai- 
den. We  had  not  proceeded  far  before  they 
tomahawked  four  of  this  number,  amongst 
whom  was  Captain  Hart,  of  Lexington.  He 
had  hired  an  Indian  to  take  him  to  Maiden. 
I  saw  part  of  this  hire  paid  to  the  Indian. 

After  having  taken  him  some  distance,  an- 
other Indian  demanded  him,  saying  that  he 
was  his  prisoner;  the  hireling  would  not  give 
him  up;  the  claimant,  finding  that  he  could 
not  get  him  alive,  shot  him  in  the  left  side 
with  a  pistol.  Capt.  Hart  still  remained  on 
his  horse ;  the  claimant  then  ran  up,  struck 
him  with  a  tomahawk,  pulled  him  off  his 
horse,  scalped  him,  and  left  him  lying  there. 

We  proceeded  on  until  we  came  within 
three  miles  of  Brownstown,  where  we  en- 
camped for  the  night.  The  next  day  we 
proceeded  on  to  their  encampment,  seven  or 
eight  miles  from  Detroit,  on  the  Kiver  Rouge, 
which  appeared  to  be  head-quarters.  They 
were  furnished  at  this  place  with  bark  wig- 
wams; here  was  a  large  number  of  squaws 
and  children,  I  suppose  two  thousand. 

They  here  stripped  off  my  clothes,  and 
dressed  me  after  the  Indian  manner.  They 
shaved  off  my  hair,  except  a  small  quantity 


mallary's  narrative. 


83 


on  the  top  of  my  head,  which  they  left  for 
the  purpose  of  rendering  the  task  of  scalping 
more  easy.  They  bored  my  ears,  which  they 
supplied  plentifully  with  ear-rings,  frequently 
by  hanging  one  in  another,  like  the  links  of 
a  chain.  They  wanted  to  bore  my  nose,  but 
I  objected,  and  they  did  not  insist.  They 
frequently  painted  my  face  one-half  black 
and  the  other  red,  and  frequently  with  red 
and  black  streaks. 

Shortly  after  our  arrival  at  these  encamp- 
ments, 1  was  adopted  into  a  Pottowatomie 
family  that  had  lost  a  son  in  the  battle  at  the 
Kiver  Kaisin. 

1  V  3  presented  to  this  family  by  an  Indian 
whose  name  was  Ke-wi-ex-him,  He  intro- 
duced me  to  my  father  and  mother,  brothers 
and  sisters,  and  instructed  me  to  call  them 
by  these  respective  appellations.  My  father's 
name  was  Asa  C'hipsaw^  after  whom,  they  call 
me;  they  asked  me  if  I  had  a  squaw;  I  an- 
swered in  the  negative,  at  which  they  ap- 
peared well  pleased,  and  brought  me  a  squaw, 
urging  me  to  marry  her.  I  refused,  and  told 
them  when  T  got  well  I  would  accede  to  the 
proposals ;  this  they  took  as  a  great  offence. 
After  having  made  themHclves  acquainted 
will  the  situation  of  my  wound,  they  made 
a  tea  of  sassafras  and  cherry-tree  barks,  which 
was  the  only  drink  I  was  permitted  to  take 
for  fifteen  days. 


H 


84 


mallary's  narrative. 


They  frequently  took  me  to  Detroit,  for 
the  purpose  of  helping  them  to  pack  provi- 
sions from  thence  to  their  encampment.  But 
they  would  not  suffer  me  to  talk  to  the  in- 
habitants of  that  place.  Fifteen  loaves  of 
bread,  weighing  three  pounds  each,  ten 
pounds  of  pork  or  beef,  and  a  peck  of  corn, 
was  what  they  drew  for  six  days.  This  would 
not  last  more  than  half  that  time ;  the  remain- 
ing part  they  lived  upon  fragments  of  dog 
or  horse  meat.  They  appeared  indifferent 
whether  they  had  killed  the  animal  that  day 
themselves,  or  whether  it  had  died  by  some 
accidental  cause  seven  or  eight  days  prior  to 
their  eating  it. 

They  appointed  me  cook.  I  then  had  to 
undergo  much  fatigue  in  getting  wood,  &c., 
for  they  lent  no  assistance.  Their  customary 
way  of  cooking  is  to  boil  the  meat  and  make 
soup,  which  they  immediately  devour  without 
salt. 

They  have  drunken  frolics,  whenever  they 
can  get  any  kind  of  spirits  to  drink.  When 
these  frolics  take  place  the  squaws  hid  me, 
to  prevent  them  from  murdering  me.  Onco 
I  was  hid  in  some  brush  and  deprived  of  food 
for  four  days,  during  which  time  there  was 
a  continual  uproar  in  the  camp,  as  though  they 
had  been  killing  each  other. 

The  squaws,  who  frequently  visited  na^ 
and  to  whom  I  as  often  applied  for  somethi 


appi 


QS 


^,i 


1 


MALLARY^S  NARRATIVE. 


to  eat,  informed  me  that  there  could  be  no- 
thing had  until  the  men  got  sober,  who  would 
then  either  kill  provisions,  or  draw  from 
Detroit.  On  the  fourth  day,  when  I  had 
given  up  to  perish,  they  brought  me  a  piece 
of  a  dog  cooked  without  salt,  and  although 
you  may  feel  squeamish  when  I  mention  it, 
yet  it  was  to  me  the  sweetest  morsel  that  I 
ever  recollect  to  have  eaten. 

During  my  stay  with  them  I  saw  them 
take  a  number  of  scalps  to  Maiden,  for  which 
they  said  they  received  from  four  to  six  dol- 
lars each,  either  in  whiskey  or  store  goods. 
They  said  they  got  thirty-seven  scalps  at  the 
battle  of  the  18th,  and  upwards  of  four  hun- 
dred at  that  of  the  22d  January.  I  replied, 
that  there  were  only  ten  scalped  on  the  18th. 
They  said  "Yankee  d — d  lie;"  and  they  fur- 
ther stated,  that  they  had  only  two  killed  on 
the  18th.  I  replied,  Indian  d — d  lie,  for  I 
saw  myself  twelve  dead  on  the  field.  I  asked 
them  how  many  British  and  Indians  were  at 
the  Eiver  Kaisin,  on  the  22d  January ;  they 
replied,  that  there  were  two  thousand  five 
hundred  Indians,  and  one  thousand  British. 

They  would  frequently  make  motions  imi- 
tating the  Americans  when  they  were  scalp- 
ing them,  by  turning,  twisting,  mourning, 
&c. ;  this  was  done  to  aggravate  me. 

They  once  gave  me  a  jug  of  whiskey,  re- 
questing me  to  drink.  I  drank  what  satis- 
8 


!l 


86 


mallary's  narrative. 


fied  me,  and  offered  them  the  jug  again — 
they  insisted  on  me  to  drink  more ;  I  put  the 
jug  to  my  head,  but  did  not  drink ;  they  dis- 
covered the  cheat,  and  cried  out  "Yankee  no 
good  man,  d — d  lie ;"  they  then  made  me 
drink  until  they  could  hear  it  gurgle  in  my 
throat. 

About  three  weeks  before  the  battle  at  the 
Rapids,  the  squaws  and  boys  were  employed 
in  dressing  deer-skins,  which  were  to  equip 
the  warriors  for  their  march  thither.  During 
this  time,  the  warriors  were  collecting  and 
dancing  the  war  dance.  They  informed  me 
that  they  were  going  to  Quo-by-ghaw,  which 
I  learned  from  the  French,  was  the  Rapids. 
I  further  learned  that  the  British  had  pro- 
mised them  the  possession  of  Fort  Meigs,  as 
well  as  the  disposal  of  Gen.  Harrison.  They 
then  calculated  on  Fort  Meigs  as  their  chief 
place  of  deposit,  from  which  they  could  make 
incursions  into  the  State  of  Ohio,  kill  a  vast 
number  of  the  inhabitants,  and  satisfy  them- 
selves with  plunder.  They  calculated  on 
having  a  three  days'  frolic  in  the  burning  of 
Gen.  Harrison. 

Two  weeks  before  their  march  for  Fort 
Meigs,  Tecumseh  was  with  them.  He  was 
busily  employed  rallying  those  who  were  in- 
difterent  about  going  to  the  battle,  and  encou- 
raging those  who  had  volunteered ;  amongst 
other  persuasive  arguments  to  volunteer,  he 


mallary's  narrative. 


87 


JOU- 


made  use  of  these,  viz. :  that  Fort  Meigs  was 
badly  constructed  and  illy  defended ;  assert- 
ing that  they  could  take  it  without  the  loss 
of  a  man.  But,  if  this  could  not  be  effected, 
Jie  would  then  lead  them  on  to  Fort  Wayne, 
which  would  certainly  fall  an  easy  prey  to 
them.  He  then  left  them,  and  went  to  the 
Wabash  to  bring  his  warriors,  who  were 
stationed  at  that  place. 

Previous  to  the  march  of  the  Indians,  they 
took  bark  of  swamp  willow,  and  tobacco, 
mixed  them  together,  and  pulverized  them. 
They  then  formed  a  circle  round  a  fire  which 
had  been  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  one 
rose  and  delivered  a  speech,  I  understood, 
relative  to  the  war.  At  the  conclusion  of  the 
speech,  they  passed  this  powder  around  the 
circle,  each  individual  taking  a  pinch  as  it 
passed ;  each  then  snuffed  a  part  of  this  por- 
tion, and  threw  the  remaining  part  in  the 
fire.  After  this  had  been  performed  with 
the  greatest  solemnity,  one  took  the  snufip 
which  yet  remained  in  the  vessel,  and  threw 
it  in  the  fire.  They  then  took  up  their  packs, 
raised  the  scalp  halloo,  waved  their  tomahawks 
over  their  heads,  and  marched  for  battle. 

There  were  three  thousand  who  drew  four 
days'  rations  at  Detroit.  When  they  left  us, 
they  told  us  to  be  good  boys,  and  stay  there 
till  they  came  back,  and  they  would  bring 
some  more  Yankees,  who  should  cook,  and 


ill' 


m 


M. 


I 


rr 


88 


uallart's  narratite. 


f.J.V 


'm 


•!■*'♦ , 
^».' 


do  all  the  hard  work,  and  we  might  go  with 
them  hunting. 

They  left  us  in  care  of  the  squaws  and  a 
few  old  men. 

We  had  no  other  way  by  which  to  get  free 
from  this  unpleasant  situation,  but  deserting 
them ;  for  they  had  been  offered  one  hundred 
dollars  each,  for  four  of  us,  by  the  citizens  of 
Detroit,  but  refused  it.  These  four  were 
Major  Graves,  Samuel  Ganoe,  John  Daven- 
port, and  myself. 

Thinking  this  as  favorable  an  opportunity 
as  we  could  get,  I  requested  Samuel  Ganoe 
to  set  off  with  me;  he  readily  consented,  and 
we  set  off  just  at  dark,  and  ran  to  Detroit, 
which  was  eight  miles,  and  got  to  the  house 
of  Mr.  H.,  who  concealed  us  in  his  cellar. 
He  had  a  hole  dug  in  the  bottom  of  his  cellar 
six  or  eight  feet  deep,  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing potatoes ;  and  in  this  we  were  put,  and 
he  laid  planks  over  it,  and  threw  dirt  on  the 
planks,  which  caused  it  to  bear  so  nice  a  sem- 
blance to  the  other  part  of  the  cellar,  that  the 
Indians  could  not  distinguish  it  from  the 
common  bottom.  This  dismal  dungeon  was 
our  abode  for  half  a  day,  during  which  time 
the  Indians  came,  and  searched  carefully  for 
us,  but  in  vain.  After  they  were  gone,  Mr. 
H.  asked  a  British  officer  if  he  would  take 
the  care  of  us.  He  replied  in  the  affirmative, 
and  then  sent  us  immediately  to  the  fort  at 


MALLARY^S  NARRATIVE. 


Detroit,  where  we  were  kept  two  days,  the 
Indians  still  searching  for  us.  On  the  second 
night  about  midnight,  we  were  sent  to  Sand- 
wich, and  kept  there  two  days  with  but  little 
to  eat,  and  then  sent  to  Maiden.  We  found 
the  force  at  Maiden  to  consist  of  sixty  Cana- 
dian French,  besides  eighty  who  had  received 
wounds  at  the  Eiver  Kaisin,  and  who  would 
no  doubt  remain  invalids  for  life.  We  also 
found  stationed  at  Maiden,  James  Girty,  whoy 
I  was  informed,  was  brother  to  the  infamous 
Simon  Girty;  his  business  was  to  receive 
scalps  from  the  Indians ;  his  pay  for  this  ser- 
vice was  three  dollars  per  week.  I  saw  here 
about  half  a  bushel  of  scalps  in  a  kettle  !  the 
number  I  cannot  guess  at. 

After  every  exertion  to  take  Fort  Meigs 
had  failed,  the  British  returned  to  Maiden, 
cursing  Harrison  for  a  rabbit,  which  they 
swore  had  burrowed,  and  which  they  could 
not  take  in  that  situation. 

From  Maiden  we  were  taken  across  to 
Cleveland,  on  the  16th  day  of  May,  1813. 

The  following  prisoners  were  with  the  In- 
dians at  the  time  I  was  a  prisoner,  viz. :  Ma- 
jor Graves,  Jarret  Dougherty,  Thomas  Jones, 
Joseph  Foddre,  and  John  Fightmaster;  the 
latter  of  whom  had  deserted  from  us,  was 
brought  back,  and  made  to  ride  the  wooden 
horse.     He  then  deserted  to  the  Indians, 

8* 


I'll 

^      M 

Mil 


90 


mallary's  narrative. 


T^ 


swearing — he  had  rather  stay  with  them  than 
ride  Winchester's  English  mare  again. 

I  heard  of  three  other  prisoners,  but  do  not 
remember  their  names;  two  of  whom  were 
about  twenty  miles  from  Detroit,  and  the 
other  near  Maiden. 

From  Cleveland  nothing  worth  relating 
occurred  until  I  arrived  at  home,  in  Bourbon 
county,  Kentucky ;  where  I  found  my  friends 
all  in  good  health,  my  father  excepted,  who 
had  gone  to  face  the  same  enemy  from  whom 
I  had  just  made  my  escape. 


i\ 


1. 1. 


>  ■■»■  ■ '  I 


m 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


MR.  JOHN  DAVENPORT. 


Hi 


, !      fi'l 


iim 


During  the  battle  which  was  fought  on  the 
18th  of  January,  1813,  between  the  American 
forces,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Lewis, 
and  the  combined  British  and  Indians,  I  re- 
ceived a  wound  in  my  right  leg  by  a  ball 
which  fractured  the  bone,  but  did  not  en- 
tirely break  it.  After  the  battle  was  over  I, 
with  many  others  who  were  also  wounded, 
was  carried  off  the  field  and  put  in  a  house, 
where  we  remained  until  after  the  battle  of 
the  22d,  when  we  were  surrendered  prisoners 
of  war  to  the  British.  I  remained  here  during 
the  night  of  the  22d,  with  the  expectation  of 
being  carried  to  Maiden  the  next  day,  but  in 
this  I  was  disappointed.  On  the  morning  of 
the  23d  I  witnessed  the  most  horrid  scenes 
of  cruelty  imaginable ;  for  the  British,  instead 
of  sending  sleighs,  ris  t*  -is  most  solemnly  pro- 
mised, to  convey  tbo  s\  ounded  prisoners  to 
Maiden,  sent  the  Indians,  who,  after  selecting 


ill 

ii 

H 

I!  till 


i  i'i 


